The US military is not in Iraq to steal anybody’s oil Defence Secretary James Mattis has said, distancing himself from previous comments made by President Donald Trump.

In January, Mr Trump told CIA staff: “We should have kept the oil. But okay. Maybe you’ll have another chance.”

During a surprise visit to Baghdad, Mr Mattis said: “I think all of us here in this room, all of us in America have generally paid for our gas and oil all along and I’m sure that we will continue to do so in the future.

“We’re not in Iraq to seize anybody’s oil.”

Mr Mattis is in Baghdad to get a first-hand assessment of the US-backed war effort against Isis, as Iraqi forces push to evict the militants from their remaining stronghold in the northern city of Mosul.

However, he is likely to face questions about Mr Trump’s recent remarks and actions concerning the region, including a temporary ban on travel to the US from seven Muslim-majority nations.

His comments are not the first time he has agreed with his Commander-in-Chief.

Mr Trump admitted Mr Mattis did not agree with him about the usefulness of torture as an interrogation tactic, but said he would defer the matter to his defence secretary.

Mr Mattis has also taken a more critical view of Russia and President Vladimir Putin than the president, accusing Moscow of trying to break the Nato alliance.

Last week, the defence secretary distanced himself from Mr Trump attacking the media as “the enemy of the American people,” saying he had no problems with the press.

A retired Marine general who previously led American troops in Iraq, Mr Mattis also asked for Iraqis who served with US troops, including translators, to be made exempt from Mr Trump’s travel ban.

He said he had not seen a new executive order which the administration is considering. “But I right now am assured that we will take steps to allow those who have fought alongside us, for example, to be allowed into the United States,” Mr Mattis said.