`` Our combat mission will end '' '' Between 35,000 and 50,000 troops will remain to help execute a drawdown plan under which all U.S. forces will be out of Iraq by December 31 , 2011 . That was a deadline set under an agreement the Bush administration signed with the Iraqi government last year . `` Let me say this as plainly as I can : By August 31 , 2010 , our combat mission in Iraq will end , '' Obama said in a speech at the Marine Corps ' Camp Lejeune , North Carolina . Meanwhile , Iraqi President Jalal Talabani visited neighboring Iran , where the supreme leader warned him that the United States is planning a prolonged stay in Iraq . `` Occupying military forces are laying the groundwork for a long-lasting stay in Iraq , and that is a great danger , '' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Talabani on Saturday , according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency . `` Occupying military forces should leave Iraq as soon as possible , '' Khamenei said , according to IRNA . `` Every day their exit is delayed will be a detriment to the Iraqi
BAGHDAD , Iraq -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Iraqi leaders are applauding President Obama 's plan to withdraw most U.S. troops from the country by August 2010 . U.S. troops will cede security measures to Iraqi security forces including the police , shown here , and the army . Iraq 's Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi 's office released a statement Saturday saying he received a call from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton informing him of Obama 's announcement of the withdrawal . `` Mr. al-Hashimi welcomed the American administration 's commitment to withdrawing its troops from Iraq according to the agreed-on schedule and stressed that every possible effort should be exerted to increase the readiness of Iraqi security forces and improve their performance , '' the statement said . Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Obama called him to tell him about the plan Friday . The prime minister said Iraqi security forces have proven their ability to provide security across Iraq `` which qualifies them to take over full security responsibilities from American forces . '' Obama said Friday he plans to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of August 2010 . Watch Obama say