The United States will stay in Syria as long as Iran maintains its presence, the U.S. special representative on Syria James Jeffrey said.

He commented on the recent statements by the senior officials that the American troops will stay in Syria for an indefinite period to counter Iran, AFP reported.

The presence of American troops in Syria is first of all related to the mission the goal of which is to defeat the Islamic State extremist group.

Asked if President Donald Trump was making US withdrawal contingent on the removal of Iranian forces, Jeffrey told reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations: “The president wants us in Syria until that and the other conditions are met.”