ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – US President Donald Trump’s visit to Iraq did not abide by conditions set by the Iraqi government, the prime minister confirmed to reporters on Sunday.
Trump’s team told Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi about the impending visit on Wednesday morning, at which time they were given two conditions.
"First, he shall land on Iraqi land and be given an Iraqi reception like any other foreign official,” said Abdul-Mahdi. “Second, there shall be an agenda with specific matters and a short meeting."
The US delegation initially agreed to the terms, but later backed out.
Trump arrived at al-Assad air base west of Baghdad Wednesday evening and stayed about three and a half hours. He had no face-to-face meeting with Iraqi officials, but held a phone call with Abdul-Mahdi.
While in the country, Trump said he had concerns about the trip: "Not for myself personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have see what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all window closed with no light anywhere. Pitch black.”
Iran’s top general Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hossein Baqeri ridiculed the American president’s visit, calling it a “humiliating and sneaky” trip.
Baghdad’s lawmakers are furious about the “arrogant” way the trip was conducted, without paying proper respect to Iraq’s leadership.
Abdul-Mahdi denied Iraq’s sovereignty was undermined and said US remains an ally.
He corrected reports, however, that had implied Trump had visited an American military base.
"There are talks about the visit of President Trump to a US base. This is wrong. There is no US base in Iraq. There are only Iraqi bases where some US and non-US soldiers are present,” he said.
Abdul-Mahdi also addressed the recent visit of National Security Advisor Falih al-Fayyadh to Syria.
The visit was very “significant” as the countries face a common threat from ISIS along their shared border. Baghdad is working to develop ties with Damascus regarding combatting ISIS, he added.
Trump’s team told Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi about the impending visit on Wednesday morning, at which time they were given two conditions.
"First, he shall land on Iraqi land and be given an Iraqi reception like any other foreign official,” said Abdul-Mahdi. “Second, there shall be an agenda with specific matters and a short meeting."
The US delegation initially agreed to the terms, but later backed out.
Trump arrived at al-Assad air base west of Baghdad Wednesday evening and stayed about three and a half hours. He had no face-to-face meeting with Iraqi officials, but held a phone call with Abdul-Mahdi.
While in the country, Trump said he had concerns about the trip: "Not for myself personally. I had concerns for the first lady, I will tell you. But if you would have see what we had to go through in the darkened plane with all window closed with no light anywhere. Pitch black.”
Iran’s top general Maj. Gen. Mohammed Hossein Baqeri ridiculed the American president’s visit, calling it a “humiliating and sneaky” trip.
Baghdad’s lawmakers are furious about the “arrogant” way the trip was conducted, without paying proper respect to Iraq’s leadership.
Abdul-Mahdi denied Iraq’s sovereignty was undermined and said US remains an ally.
He corrected reports, however, that had implied Trump had visited an American military base.
"There are talks about the visit of President Trump to a US base. This is wrong. There is no US base in Iraq. There are only Iraqi bases where some US and non-US soldiers are present,” he said.
Abdul-Mahdi also addressed the recent visit of National Security Advisor Falih al-Fayyadh to Syria.
The visit was very “significant” as the countries face a common threat from ISIS along their shared border. Baghdad is working to develop ties with Damascus regarding combatting ISIS, he added.
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