Iraq PM meets US, Iran ambassadors; chairs cabinet

Iraq's newly appointed Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Saturday chaired his first cabinet meeting since being sworn in, following weeks of tense political negotiations.

He also had separate meetings with the American and Iranian ambassadors to Iraq, Matthew H. Tueller and Iraj Masjedi.

Al-Kadhimi's meeting with the Iranian envoy comes amid tensions between the US and Iran, which have escalated following America's assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassim Soleimani in Janaury.

The US has welcomed Iraq's new government, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledging to help the new prime minister and urging implementation of reforms.