Iranian ambassador in Iraq Iraj Masjedi gives a press conference outside the new building of the Iranian consulate in the southern city Iraqi city of Basra on Sept 11, 2018 after the old building was set ablaze by protestors a few days earlier. (HAIDAR MOHAMMED ALI / AFP）

TEHRAN - The US military bases in Iraq will be probably shut down in the future, the Iranian ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, was quoted as saying by Tehran Times daily on Wednesday.

Masjedi made the remarks on Tuesday about political developments in neighboring Iraq

Masjedi made the remarks on Tuesday about political developments in neighboring Iraq.

READ MORE: US to continue reducing military forces in Iraq in coming months

He said Iraq is currently seeking to create a balance between the "two main actors," namely Iran and the United States, and is trying to "utilize the capabilities of the two countries."

Neither Iran nor the United States can be removed from Iraq, he added.

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Iran has insisted removal of the US bases from Iraq, citing them as a security threat to the Islamic republic.