The danger of pro-Iran militias attacking US troops in Iraq if Washington becomes embroiled in a military clash with Tehran was reportedly on the agenda of the US secretary of state when he turned up in Baghdad for a surprise meeting with Iraq’s leadership on May 8.

Al-Monitor reported on May 10 that a leader of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) reacted aggressively to the visit of Mike Pompeo to Baghdad, which was not announced beforehand.

“Americans are in a trouble now, especially considering that US troops' bases are known in Iraq and the region and can be targeted easily,” a senior PMU commander, Moeen al-Kadhimi, was reported as saying at a press conference. He added: “Pompeo's statements indicate the great fear Americans are witnessing today.”

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi told press outlets that Pompeo had warned him that the US would target some pro-Iranian militias within the PMU if any attack takes place against US troops in Iraq, of which there are around 5,000.

Abdul Mahdi has received assurances from the PMU that it will not target US troops in Iraq, but this would not stop other groups affiliated with Iran from targeting US interests in the country.

Having in the past few days deployed an aircraft carrier and a B-52 bomber task force to the Persian Gulf in response to what it claims is an increase in the threat level to US armed forces from Tehran, Washington on May 10 confirmed it had approved a new deployment of Patriot missiles to the region.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, were quoted by Reuters as saying one piece of intelligence indicated that Iran had moved missiles on boats. One of the officials reportedly added that the particular missile observed was perhaps capable of launching from a small ship.

Iran has described the US claims of an increase in the threat level as nonsense and the deployment of American military might as “psychological warfare”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has spoken of hawkish elements in the White House perhaps trying to goad US President Donald Trump into a military showdown with Iran.