baghdad u.s. secretary state rex tillerson urge iraqi government kurdistan region monday resolve conflict kurdish self-determination dispute territories dialogue tillerson lay position start meet baghdad iraqi prime minister haider al-abadi turn defend role iraqi paramilitary force back iran criticism secretary state make sunday concern bite sad tillerson say open remark friends baghdad friends erbil encourage party enter discussion ... differences address say refer iraqi kurdistan region capitals u.s. administration side abadi reject validity referendum hold last month kurdish region produce overwhelm yes kurdish independence administration also call two side avoid escalation abadi retaliate vote isolate kurdistan region order troop seize oil city kirkuk kurdish fighters want enter battle iraqi component abadi say enter kirkuk send clear message citizens kirkuk important us tillerson second meet abadi many days sunday meet alongside saudi arabia king salman tillerson say time iranian-backed militias help baghdad defeat islamic state go home abadi tell tillerson paramilitary force call popular mobilisation part iraqi institutions reject accusations act iran proxies popular mobilisation fighters encourage hope country region say hours early abadi office publish statement reject tillerson comment party right interfere iraqi matter say nl8n1my1uj washington also back baghdad islamic state concern iran use increase presence iraq syria support president bashar al-assad expand influence region shi ite muslim iran influence iraq population also predominantly shi ite grow since u.s. invasion 2003 overthrow dictator saddam hussein sunni iraq sunni muslim neighbour include saudi arabia share washington concern rise iranian influence tehran train arm iraqi popular mobilisation force fight often alongside iraqi government units islamic state effectively defeat july u.s.-backed offensive capture stronghold mosul unite state 5,000 troop deploy iraq provide critical air grind support offensive islamic state also main backer kurdish-led syrian coalition capture stronghold raqqa early month close group iran within popular mobilisation asaib ahl al-haq react tillerson comment say would americans force leave iraq force get ready get country excuse daesh presence say asaib leader sheikh qais al-khazali accord group tv channel al-aahd tillerson urge iraq kurds resolve conflict dialogue