Iran 'nothing to do with' attacks on bases in Iraq

A top Iranian commander on Thursday said Iran has nothing to do with attacks against bases housing U.S troops in Iraq.

Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of joint staff for the Iranian armed forces, said the attacks were a "natural reaction" to the killing of Ge. Qassem Soleimani, former head of Iran's Quds force, and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who both were killed by the U.S in an attack in January.

"Our country has nothing to do with those attacks," said Bagheri, who is Iran's most senior commander.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Tehran should expect a bold U.S. response if Iran or Iranian-backed groups attack American forces or assets in Iraq.

U.S.-Iran tensions soared following the Jan. 3 Washington-directed strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani outside Baghdad airport.

Iran has been blamed for an uptick in rocket attacks targeting Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. troops.

Three separate attacks in the span of a week struck Camp Taji and Basmaya bases, killed three coalition servicemen, including two Americans, and injured scores of others.