Iraq declares IRGC Quds Force commander persona non grata

The Iraqi government has declared Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, persona non grata ahead of the funeral ceremony for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Monte Carlo Doualiya cites political sources in Baghdad.

According to the report, Baghdad has formally communicated the decision to Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The report said the move was accompanied by additional measures, including a ban on meetings between Iranian officials and members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), as well as other local armed groups.

The measures come as Iraq prepares for an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to the United States, where he is expected to seek major military and economic agreements with Washington.

The Iraqi government has not publicly commented on the reported measures.

By Sabina Mammadli