• Mohammed Al Sudani defended the presence of US soldiers.
• Sudani wanted to send a high-level delegation to Washington next month.
• Sudani stated that foreign forces are still needed.

In an interview, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al Sudani defended the presence of US soldiers in his nation and stated that there is no schedule for their withdrawal.

Sudani stated that foreign forces are still needed, referring to the US and NATO troop contingents that train and help Iraqi soldiers in combating Daesh (ISIS). “We need more time to eliminate ISIS,” he added in the interview.

Sudani, who took office in October, said he wanted to send a high-level delegation to Washington next month for talks with US officials, adding that Iraq would like to have comparable relations with Washington as Saudi Arabia and other Arabian Gulf oil and gas producers.

“I don’t see this as an impossible matter, to see Iraq have a good relationship with Iran and the US,” Sudani told

Previously Mr. Sudani has remained publicly silent on the issue of keeping US forces in Iraq, saying simply that he will talk with Iraqi commanders. Some pro-Iranian militia chiefs and Mr. Sudani’s parliamentary supporters are urging him to reconsider the US presence.

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