'Iraq supports efforts to ease Iran-US tensions'

By Zehra Nur Duz and Aref Yousef

ANKARA (AA) - Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali al-Hakim warned Monday that an all-out war could break out in the region if tensions between Iran and the U.S. continue to escalate, local media reported.

"We talked about efforts to reduce tension between Iran and America and spare the region from a devastating war with serious repercussions for the world," Shafaq news website quoted al-Hakim as saying.

The comments by the Iraqi foreign minister came at a joint news conference in Baghdad with his Belgian counterpart Philippe Goffin.

The killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad has brought already heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran to a fever pitch.

Iran responded by launching salvos of ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases where U.S. forces are stationed, but the sides indicated they would not further escalate militarily.

Expressing his country's support for Iraq, Goffin, said: "The stability of Iraq is important to us."

Earlier in the day, Iraqi President Barham Salih also received Goffin at Baghdad’s Al-Salam Palace.

During the meeting, Salih underlined the importance of Belgium's contribution to the rehabilitation of the Iraqi regions liberated from the Daesh terrorist organization.

In June 2014, the terror group Daesh captured the whole of Mosul, Salahadin, Anbar provinces and certain portions of Diyala and Kirkuk. These areas were gradually taken back by the Iraqi state.

The U.S.-led coalition, formed in October 2014 to combat Daesh, provided the Iraqi administration with support, particularly through airstrikes.