Iraqi Prime Minister cancels visit to Iran

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has cancelled a visit to Iran, his press office said, as the PM came under strong Iranian criticism over his stand on renewed US sanctions against Tehran.

Abadi will still go ahead with a planned visit to Turkey on August 14, but has scrapped the Iran leg of the trip "because of his busy schedule", his office said.

An Iraqi official had said Saturday that Abadi would visit both neighbouring Turkey and Iran to discuss economic issues, the AP reported.

According to Iraqi political sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, Iran initially agreed to the visit but changed its mind because it was unhappy about Abadi's remarks.

Earlier, the PM said that Iraq would reluctantly comply with US sanctions against Tehran that took effect the same day:  "We don't support the sanctions because they are a strategic error, but we will comply with them. In general, sanctions are unjust."