Trump warns Iraq of sanctions over troop expulsion

The president also threatened sanctions against US ally Iraq.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday stood by his threat to go after Iranian cultural sites, warning of a “major retaliation” if Iran strikes back for the killing of one of its top military commanders.

The president, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, also threatened sanctions against US ally Iraq after its parliament called on American troops to leave the country.

Trump and his advisers have been defending the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani. Trump says Soleimani was planning attacks against Americans and said he would consider releasing intelligence reports that led him to direct the killing.

Asked about potential retaliation by Iran, Trump said: “If it happens, it happens. If they do anything, there will be major retaliation.”

The president also issued a threat to Baghdad after the Iraqi parliament’s call for US and other foreign troops to leave the country. “We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build, long before my time. We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it,” Trump said.

Source ; News Agencies