2023-01-15T16:58:23.000000 Z / Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani safeguarded the presence of U.S.

troops in his nation and set no timetable for their withdrawal, indicating a less confrontational posture toward Washington early in his term than his Iran-backed political allies have taken.

We think that we need the foreign forces, Mr.

Sudani said in his first U.S.

interview considering that taking office in October, describing the American and North Atlantic Treaty Organization troop contingents that train and assist Iraqi units in countering Islamic State but largely stay out of fight.

Elimination of ISIS needs some more time, he added.