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Iraq has roundly rejected US President Donald Trumps recent remarks that Iran is taking over the neighboring Arab country.

Trump had tweeted on Wednesday that Iran is rapidly taking over more and more of Iraq, prompting a harsh reaction by Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis office, Iraqs private satellite channel al-Sharqiya reported.

Iraq is an independent country, and not influenced by any other state, Hadithi said in a statement.

When taking decisions, Iraq acts freely and independently, said the Iraqi official, adding that the countrys territorial integrity was respectable.

The statement further said the Iraqi government brooks no invasive or interventionist measure against the Arab state by any other country.

We have reciprocal relations and interests with many other world and neighboring countries. These relations, however, have not been shaped based on negligence for Iraqs territorial integrity and independence in decision making, the official added.

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Iran was among the first countries that rushed to Iraqs help when the Daesh terror group in 2014 unleashed a campaign of death and destruction in the northern and western parts of the neighboring Arab state.

At Baghdads request, Tehran has been providing military advisory assistance to the Iraqi forces, enabling them to make numerous gains against Daesh terrorists on the battleground.

The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 based on allegations that the country harbors weapons of mass destruction. The claims were later proven to be groundless, but the invasion and the ensuing chaos went on to kill and displace thousands across Iraq.

Last month, Germanys Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said in widely-reported remarks that the United States wars and its flawed interventionist policy had destabilized the Middle East, causing an increasing number of people to flee the region to seek asylum in Europe.

The US president, himself, acknowledged in the tweet that the US has squandered three trillion dollars in Iraq.

Despite the experience, Washington and dozens of its allies formed a military alliance in 2014 with the declared aim of rooting out the Takfiri Daesh terror group. Now in its third year, the mission has failed to fulfill the avowed goal.

In recent weeks, the new administration in Washington has adopted a tough line in dealing with both Iran and Iraq.

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Last week, trump slapped a 90-day ban on the entry of Iranian and Iraqi citizens, among those of five other Muslim-majority nations, drawing strong condemnations from Baghdad and Tehran.

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Baghdad angered by Trump's words on Iran role in neighboring Iraq - Press TV

Press Herald

UN Envoy Says IS Group Will Be Routed Soon in Iraq New York Times Iraqi forces have pushed IS out of nearly all the cities and towns the group once held in Iraq. Mosul is the last major urban center it holds in that country, and government forces have retaken the eastern half of the city since the operation was ... Envoy tells UN that ISIS will soon be routed from IraqPress Herald Iraq: Men Fleeing Mosul Held in SecretHuman Rights Watch Iraq faces massive challenge in Mosul offensiveAl-Arabiya Daily Mail -Reuters all 90 news articles »

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UN Envoy Says IS Group Will Be Routed Soon in Iraq - New York Times

Common Dreams

Taking Iraq's Oil... The Trump Edition Common Dreams The leaders of the United States have provided many reasons for their numerous interventions in Iraq. President Donald Trump has focused on one thing: the United States should take the country's oil. During late 2015, when he first began campaigning to ... Trump immigration policy endangers progress in IraqCharleston Post Courier After working in Iraq for UN, Pittsfield senator opposes President Donald Trump's immigration orderMassLive.com all 42 news articles »

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Taking Iraq's Oil... The Trump Edition - Common Dreams

DETROIT (WJBK) - The leader of a mosque in Dearborn has confirmed to FOX 2 that a man who claimed his mother died in Iraq after being barred from returning to the United States under a ban instituted by President Trump this weekend, lied to FOX 2 about when her death occurred.

Imam Husham Al-Hussainy, leader of the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center in Dearborn, says Mike Hager's mom did not pass away this weekend after being barred from traveling to the United States. The Imam confirms that Hager's mother died before the ban was put in place.

After the story aired on FOX 2 and was posted on FOX2Detroit.com, we received many questions about the validity of Hager's claims that his mother died waiting to be approved to come home. FOX 2 has confirmed that his mother died five days earlier.

According to Al-Hussainy, Hager's mother had kidney disease and was receiving treatment in Michigan - where she lived - before traveling to Iraq to visit family. The Imam said she passed away on January 22, 2017, five days before President Trump instituted the travel ban.

On Tuesday, Mike Hager told FOX 2 that he and his family were stopped while trying to return from Iraq to Michigan. He said that he was allowed through because of his American citizenship but his ailing mother and other family members were not. He then claimed that his mom passed away in Iraq on Saturday, as he was traveling to the United States.

Travelers from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia are banned from traveling to the United States for 90 days so the country can detect "individuals with terrorist ties and stopping them from entering the United States."

FOX 2 is continuing to try and contact Hager for more details.

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Man who claimed mom died in Iraq after Trump's ban lied, Imam confirms - Fox 2 Detroit

Iran has stopped issuing visas to Americans, the countrys foreign minister said, in an expected response to PresidentDonald Trumps 90-day ban on Iranian citizens entering the U.S.

Irans Foreign Ministry on Saturday said it would take reciprocal and proportionate action after Mr. Trump issued an executive order barring entry to the U.S. of nationals from Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, as well as Iran. Tuesdays move came the same day Iraq said it wouldnt take any reciprocal action against Americans in light of the decree.

Iranian Foreign MinisterJavad Zarifconfirmed that Tehran would no longer issue visas to U.S. citizens. He also said exceptions to the ban were possible and specific cases would be reviewed by a foreign ministry committee.

Irans move could affect efforts byBoeingCo.to seal an 80-plane sale to Iran Air that the U.S. company said is still subject to government approvals. Some U.S. lawmakers are trying to block the deal, which was agreed on in December.

Were continuing to assess any impact the executive order might have and are closely monitoring congressional, administration and judicial actions, a Boeing spokesman said.

Despite the ban, USA Wrestling, the sports federation that oversees American Olympic wrestlers, on Monday said it planned to participate in an international tournament in mid-February in Kermanshah, Iran.

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Iran halts visas to Americans as Iraq keeps door open - Fox News