Iraqi leaders have warned of the risks of war during a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, whose country is locked in a tense standoff with the United States.

Zarif’s visit to neighbouring Iraq — which is caught in the middle of its two allies the US and Iran — follows a decision by Washington to deploy 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi’s office said in Baghdad today that the Prime Minister warned of the danger of a war during a meeting with Zarif last night.

Abdel Mahdi pleaded for the stability of the region and the upholding of the 2015 nuclear deal. Iraqi President Barham Saleh discussed with Zarif the need to prevent war or escalation.

On Saturday Zarif called the deployment of extra US troops to the region very dangerous and a threat to international peace and security.