Iran Press/Middle East: Barham Salih added that the Iraqi constitution rejects the use of Iraq as a base for hitting or attacking a neighboring country.
His reaction on Monday came a day after Trump told CBS that US troops would leave Syria and Afghanistan but stay on in Iraq, partly 'to be looking a little bit at Iran.'
Trump admitted that staying in Iraq is a 'mistake' and that attacking Iran is not an option, but the remarks sparked a new round of demands in Baghdad for US forces to leave the country, Press TV reported.
US 'Watching Iran' from Iraq is 'unacceptable': Iraqi President
Salih also said that US forces were in the country under an agreement between the two countries, but that 'any action taken outside this framework is unacceptable.'
The Iraqi president insisted that Trump had not asked Baghdad's permission for US troops in Iraq to 'watch Iran.'
He said US forces were in Iraq to fight terrorism and that he looked forward to hearing Washington's clarification on the number of troops who were going to stay as well as their mission.
In his interview aired on Sunday, Trump defended his decision to end 'endless wars' in Syria and Afghanistan by pulling out US troops from those countries.
However, he said not all of thousands of American forces stationed in Iraq, specially at the Ain al-Asad Air Base in the western Anbar Province, were going to return home.
Asked whether he wanted the troops there to 'strike' Iran at a later time, Trump responded: “No… All I want to do is be able to watch.”
“We have an unbelievable and expensive military base built in Iraq. It’s perfectly situated for looking at all over different parts of the troubled Middle East rather than pulling up,” he added.
Trump announced in December that all US military troops in Syria would return home in the coming months while the number of US forces in Afghanistan would also be reduced drastically.
Trump made an unannounced stop at Ain al-Asad base on Christmas, in a visit that drew fire from Iraqi officials and their counterparts in Iran and other neighboring countries. 105/205
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