Iraq has received ‘credible’ intelligence that Islamic State militants plan to launch attacks on subway systems in Paris and the US, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said.

"Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad where there was the arrest of a few elements and there are networks planning from inside Iraq to have attacks," he told a small group of US reporters.

"They plan to have attacks in the metros of Paris and the US," he added.

"From the details I have received, yes it looks credible."

Abadi said that he received the information on Thursday morning in New York.

Reuters could not immediately verify the information with French and US authorities. - Reuters