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Iraq seeks Iranian assistance to curb militias' reign

Iraq's prime minister made a surprise visit to Tehran to request Iranian help in controlling Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
TEHRAN, IRAN - JULY 22: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY  MANDATORY CREDIT - "IRANIAN PRESIDENCY / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi (L) meets with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) as part of his visit in Tehran, Iran on July 22, 2019. (Photo by Iranian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi made a surprise six-hour visit to Tehran late Monday. He was accompanied by a high-ranking Iraqi delegation including Falih al-Fayyadh, the head of the Popular Mobilization Units, or PMU. 

Abdul Mahdi met with President Hassan Rouhani and discussed the PMU dossier and the impact of Iran-US tensions on Iraq. Rouhani reassured Abdul Mahdi that Iraq would be kept at a distance from the current tension. He further stated that Iran would assist Iraq in bringing all PMU factions under state control.

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