US Unaware of Iran’s Plans to Build Missile Base in Iraq

The US authorities have no information on alleged plans by the Iranian government to build a missile base in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby said in a briefing on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The spokesperson argued that the Iranian government has been trying to exert influence in Iraq and underscored the need for Tehran to closely coordinate its actions with Baghdad and get approval of the the Iraqi authorities.

"I’m not aware of such plans," Kirby stated. "That’s the first I’ve heard of this."

"If they are going to involve themselves in Iraq… we don’t want to see anybody, even the closes of neighbors, involve themselves in such a eway that further inflames secterian tensions," Kirby added.

Last week, Arabic media reported that Tehran has launched construction of the largest missile base in the Syrian Coastal Mountain Range in Iraqi Kurdistan, which reportedly aims to protect the religious borders of Iran.