ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran and Iraq on Wednesday slammed the United States for opposing the recently-signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries, with Tehran labelling Washington’s comments as an “unacceptable interference.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Monday oversaw the signing of a joint security MoU between Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji and Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, “concerning security coordination along the shared borders between the two countries.”

In response to a reporter’s question on Tuesday about the US’ concern over the MoU and the Iraqi parliament’s continued push to pass the controversial Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) bill –heavily opposed by Washington-, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said: “We support genuine Iraqi sovereignty, not legislation that would turn Iraq into an Iranian satellite state.”

The Iraqi Embassy in Washington responded to Bruce’s comments in a statement, saying: “Iraq is a fully sovereign state with the inherent right to conclude agreements and memoranda of understanding in accordance with its Constitution, national laws, and supreme interests.”

The embassy said that Iraq is committed to fostering its friendly relations with a wide range of countries, including the US, “on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests,” stressing that Baghdad “is not subordinate to the policy of any other state, and that its decisions are guided solely by its independent national will.”

The MoU “falls within the framework of bilateral cooperation aimed at safeguarding security and managing the shared border,” and contributes to the stability and security of both countries and the region as a whole, the statement noted.

Since the return of Donald Trump to the White House in January and the restoration of the maximum pressure policy against Iran, Washington has increasingly pressured Baghdad to cut ties with Tehran.

The US has strongly opposed a bill in the Iraqi parliament which seeks to organize the pro-Iran PMF similarly to other Iraqi state security and military agencies, saying the draft law undermines Iraqi sovereignty and risks increasing Iranian influence in the country.

The Iranian Embassy in Baghdad condemned Washington’s “interfering position” in Iran and Iraq’s bilateral relations, emphasizing the shared will of the two neighboring countries to strengthen ties.

Bruce’s comments “constitute unacceptable interference in relations between two independent neighboring countries. They are clear evidence of the destabilizing approach taken by the US toward the countries of the region and a sign of the ongoing efforts of decision-makers in this country to sow discord among neighboring Muslim nations,” read a statement from the embassy.

The embassy further noted that Washington’s positions violate the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, “which are based on ‘cooperation among states’.”

Many PMF groups are backed by Iran and have frequently clashed with Tehran’s rivals in Iraq, namely the US, over the years.

Michael Mitchell, the Arabic spokesperson for the US State Department, told The New Region on Sunday that passing the PMF bill could result in “negative repercussions” for Iraq.