Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made little headway in easing Iranian opposition to a U.S.-Iraqi security pact, as Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told him June 9 that American troops must leave the country. The deal is already facing widespread rejection by Iraqi politicians, despite new proposals from American negotiators.

Iran has staunchly opposed the agreement, which aims to set the framework for a longer-term U.S. military presence in Iraq. Tehran feels the deal would solidify U.S. influence in Iraq and give American forces a launching pad for military action against Iran.