Iraq on Sunday offered to meditate between Iran and the U.S. amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Mohammed al-Hakim, the Iraqi foreign minister, made the offer during a news conference with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was in Baghdad, The Associated Press reported.
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Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been high since the Trump administration pulled out of the Obama-era nuclear deal.
They have escalated more recently, as the U.S. sent a carrier strike group and bomber taskforce to the Middle East, though the White House has not publicly identified a specific threat from Tehran.
On Friday, President TrumpDonald John TrumpPapadopoulos on AG’s new powers: ‘Trump is now on the offense’ Pelosi uses Trump to her advantage Mike Pence delivers West Point commencement address MORE announced he would send about 1,500 troops to the Middle East to bolster force protection for those already in the area.
At the same Sunday press conference, Zarif said Iran would defend itself against “war efforts.”
Iranian officials announced last Monday that they have increased their capacity to produce enriched uranium.