"Over the last several days, I've had many conversations with our partners and allies about the situation in Iraq and the region," the secretary told reporters at an impromptu Pentagon news conference today.
"It's been uniform support for our position and our actions, and I continue to convey to them the importance we continue to place on the defeat-ISIS position," Esper said of the U.S. drone attack that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.
The U.S. message is that the ball is in Iran's court, and the United States encourages Iran to de-escalate the situation, Esper said, adding that the United States is open to discussing issues and having a more normal relationship with Iran. "But if Iran chooses to go the other path, we are prepared to deal with that and will respond forcefully," he said.
No decision whatsoever has been made for the United States to leave Iraq, the secretary said, reemphasizing the U.S. commitment to Iraq to defeat ISIS and noting the escalation of attacks by Iranian and proxy groups attacking U.S. forces.
"When we looked at this operation, we knew there would be consequences; we knew there'd be risks," said Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who joined Esper in briefing reporters.
ILKHA