Pompeo says visited Baghdad to reassure Iraq over Iran's alleged escalating activity

White House National Security Adviser John Bolton said in a statement on Monday that the United States was deploying a Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East to send a warning to Iran in response to alleged troubling indications and escalatory activities.

"I wanted to go to Baghdad to speak with the leadership there, to assure them that we stood ready to continue to ensure that Iraq was a sovereign, independent nation," Pompeo said on Tuesday after citing reports of alleged Iran escalating activity.

Pompeo said he would also speak to Iraqi officials about arrangements for disconnecting from Iranian energy.

The state secretary later revealed further details on his talks with top Iraqi officials. He said that talks had focused on security of US diplomatic missions abroad and safety of servicemen of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State terror group (ISIS, banned in Russia).

"Visited Iraq & met with PM @AdilAbdAlMahdi [Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi] & Pres. @BarhamSalih [Iraqi President Barham Salih], to reinforce our friendship & to underline the need for Iraq to protect diplomatic facilities & Coalition personnel. U.S. & @Coalition troops are helping the Iraqi Security Forces ensure that ISIS remains defeated," Pompeo posted on Twitter on Wednesday.

Last fall, the United States closed its consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra, citing threats from Iran. Washington has also accused Iran of attacking the US consulate and embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.