Intel: Why Trump’s Iran policy is sparking Iraqi outrage

President Donald Trump’s pledge to use a US base in Iraq to “watch” Iran has triggered a furious reaction from Baghdad.

Why it matters: Amid bipartisan push-back against his decision to pull US troops out of Syria, the president told CBS in an interview that ran Sunday that Al-Asad base in Anbar province, which the president visited just after Christmas, could deal with the Iranian threat. The comments sparked outrage from Iraqi President Barham Salih, who insisted today the US never asked permission for a wider mission beyond fighting the Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS.)

Full quote: “We spent a fortune on building this incredible base,” Trump told Face the Nation. “We might as well keep it. And one of the reasons I want to keep it is because I want to be looking a little bit at Iran because Iran is a real problem.”

Occupying presence? The comments prompted immediate criticism on social media from Iraqi lawmakers and other officials. As Trump did not meet with Iraqi officials during his December visit, the CBS interview plays into concerns Iraqi concerns that the US sees Baghdad as a lesser partner.