Iraq explains why Trump’s meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister was cancelled

Baku. 27 December. REPORT.AZ/ A meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and US President Donald Trump, which was planned to be held during the latter’s visit to the Middle Eastern country, was cancelled and subsequently replaced by a phone call due to disagreements on the organization of the talks, the Iraqi government said, Report informs citing the Interfax.

"An official reception and a meeting between the chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adel Abdul Mahdi, and the US president were planned to be held. However, a disagreement on the organization of the meeting has led to it being replaced by a telephone conversation," the Iraqi government’s press service said in a statement.

The statement added that during the call, Abdul Mahdi and Trump had discussed the developments in the region, especially in the light of the US decision to pull out forces from Syria. Trump invited Abdul Mahdi to Visit Washington. The Iraqi prime minister, in his turn, invited Trump to pay a visit to Baghdad.

Notably, US President Donald Trump earlier paid an unannounced visit to Iraq, during which he held meetings with the military. Trump's visit to Iraq took place a week after Trump announced the withdrawal of American troops from Syria.