US denies aid to Syria for reconstruction until Iran troops are sent off

The United States has cut off financial aid to Syria for the reconstruction of the war-torn nation unless the Iranian troops are sent off.

Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo on Wednesday at Jewish Institute for National Security of America asserted that Syria should ask the Iranian soldiers to leave the country if it wants to continue receiving aid for the reconstruction from Washington in the future, reported RT.

"If Syria doesn't ensure the total withdrawal of Iranian-backed troops, it will not receive one single dollar from the United States for reconstruction," Pompeo added.

Talking about the presence of the Iranian forces in Damascus, Pompeo said, "The onus of expelling Iran from the country falls on the Syrian government."

There has been a visible friction between Tehran and Washington after the US accused Iran of facilitating terrorist activities in the Middle East.

On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced had Washington's withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or the Iran nuclear deal which limited the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed between six countries in 2015 - Iran, US, Britain, Germany, Russia, France and China for lifting economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limitations to the country's nuclear programme.