The move comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Baghdad over Iran’s influence in Iraqi politics.

Savaya was criticized for mishandling key issues, including failing to block the nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom Trump warned Iraq against choosing.

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Syria envoy Tom Barrack is expected to take over the Iraq portfolio.

Source: Reuters

Iran has many attractions. Iran’s oil is an attraction; Iran’s gas is an attraction. The rich mines of Iran are an attraction. The strategic and geographical position of Iran is an attraction.

They want to take possession of this country, just as they did before. For over 30 years, the Americans were in Iran.

The resources were in their hands, the oil was in their hands, the politics, security, and global relations were in their hands. They did whatever they wanted for 30 years.

Their hand has been cut off. They want to return to the same state as the Pahlavi era. The nation of Iran has stood firm, shielding itself, and acts as an obstacle.

The rest of the talk about human rights and such are just worthless words they say.

The issue is this: they have greed, and Iran stands firm. It will continue to stand firm, and God willing, it will make the other side despair of its malice and harassment.

I am not concerned about war. What I am concerned of is miscalculations.

I think Trump is wise enough to make the correct decision.

We have lost our trust to the United States as a negotiating partner.

There are now some intermediators, some friendly countries in the region who are trying to build this confidence.

I see the possibility of another talk if the U.S. negotiation team follows what Trump said: “A fair and equitable deal to ensure that there is no nuclear weapons.”

US Air Force:
— Over 80 C-17 transport flights, 3 heavy C-5M flights, and many C-130 flights to move troops and equipment.

— Up to 20 aerial refueling aircraft (KC-135 and KC-46).
Search-and-rescue aircraft (HC-130J).

— E-11A BACN aircraft for airborne communications and battle management.

— RC-135 Rivet Joint for signals intelligence and electronic warfare.

— 6 F-35A fighters and 6 EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets.

— Previously deployed strike aircraft in the region include F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10C attack planes.

US Navy:
— 3 Arleigh Burke–class destroyers with the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group in the Arabian Sea.

— 2 Arleigh Burke–class destroyers in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf to defend US bases in Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

— 2 Arleigh Burke–class destroyers in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Mediterranean to help protect Israel.

— The nuclear submarine USS Georgia (Ohio class) is operating in the Mediterranean.

By the time you get to delivery of an F-35, you’re at the F-45.

The problem with Türkiye was S-400s… a Russian missile defense system. Congress enacted CAATSA. President Trump walks in and says, ‘This is insane.’

Türkiye already has a defense business; the drone business for Türkiye is the biggest supplier of drones for Ukraine. They’re manufacturing F-35s; they were in the F-35 program with us.

They have their own jets, KAAN jets, and while we don't sell them jets, they buy Eurojets. They're manufacturing F-35s; they were in the F-35 program with us.

They have four F-35s that are hangared in California. They were a big part of the fuselage assembly program.

The S-400 has two requirements… operability, which they’ve solved, and possession, which is a little more difficult.

My belief is that those issues will be resolved in the next upcoming four to six months.

It’s been so solid and good, and everybody’s lived up to their obligations.

Our message to the region is: this is your regional decision, this is your regional opportunity.

We're not going to impose a mandate of how it needs to be done or a new Sykes-Picot 3.0 mechanism that was only derived really because of black gold.

The West—and I say this honorably and respectfully—we screwed it up.

We drew lines around tribes and regions that were never designed to be together.