US Sec. of State Pompeo makes unannounced visit to Baghdad amid rising tensions with Iran – The Washington Post

Amid growing political tensions between the US and Iran, The Washington Post recently conveyed the news report that the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a sudden, unscheduled trip to Baghdad (Iraq’s capital) on Tuesday.

The report states that the surprise visit came after Pompeo abruptly canceled a visit to Germany, where he was scheduled to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. 

While in Iraq, Pompeo met separately with President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. Among the Iraqis attending both meetings was Foreign Minister Muhammed Ali al-Hakim.

Additional details from the news report mention that while flying to Iraq, Pompeo told reporters that his trip was prompted by reports of some escalation in Iranian activity. Iraq and Iran are neighbors, and maintain cordial relations. 

Pompeo said he would provide assurances of continued U.S. support to train Iraqi security forces, and urge them to pursue energy deals with Jordan and Egypt so they could reduce their dependency on the Iranian electrical grid, the report mentioned.