The government said it was not looking for trouble with the US, nor would it push for the establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iraq. The Iranian conservatives were somewhat taken aback when, after the fall of Saddam, Iraqi Shia religious leaders leaving exile in Iran indicated that they did not want an Islamic Republic in Iraq. The Iraqi Shias has kept quiet about that while in exile, but had apparently noted the unpopularity of Islamic rule in Iran, and the likelyhood that Iraqi Shias would like it even less.