Is Iran Losing Influence In Iraq?

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani meets with Iraq's President Barham Salih in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 17, 2018. president.ir

Ali Mamouri, Al-Monitor: With rising US pressure, Iran worries about losing ground in Iraq

Iraqi President Barham Salih met with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Nov. 17 in Tehran, where Khamenei underlined that Iraq must retain its Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). Khamenei stated that the PMU were among Iraq’s major achievements in the past few years.

Khamenei has reiterated this stance in previous meetings with Iraqi officials, including former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, which shows how important this matter is for Iran.

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WNU Editor: A lot of goodwill between Iran and Iraq was destroyed when Iran cut-off electricity supplies to southern Iraq .... Iran resumes electricity supply to Iraq after a month of unrest (The National). And while Iran and Iraq were able to work together against a common enemy .... the Islamic State. With the war now over the old animosities and historical grievances between the two countries are returning.

Iraq Praises Iran's Help In The War Against The Islamic State

Iraq's Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi (R) speaks during a news conference with U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey in Baghdad March 9, 2015. Dempsey, the top U.S. military officer, said on Monday that Islamic State would be defeated, as he visited Baghdad during an offensive against the radical insurgents which has seen Washington's military role overshadowed by Iran. Ahmed Saad/Reuters

Newsweek: Iraq Praises Iran's Help in Fight Against ISIS

Iraq’s minister of defense on Monday praised Iran’s contributions in the battle against the Islamic State (ISIS), according to the Associated Press. Iran’s role has been “very positive,” Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said at a news conference in Baghdad.

Although Iran and the United States have been at odds, al-Obeidi said the dueling nations’ influence in Iraq’s fight against ISIS has been “balanced.”

“The situation is acceptable to us,” al-Obeidi told reporters. “We are in a state of war.” His comments were translated by an interpreter, the AP noted.

WNU Editor: These comments were said with U.S. General Martin Dempsey by his side .... and the Iraqi Defense Minister did not exactly praise the U.S. contribution .... I may be seeing this wrong, but this looks like a dig against the U.S..

Iran Losing Clout In Iraq?

Capt. Jarrett Moffitt (left) and members of the Border Training Team observe conditions along the Iranian border during a visit to Al Shuhada Fort, one of the outposts protecting the Iran-Iraq border. The team is working with Iraqi border guards to stop the flow of insurgent forces and supplies into Iraq. Photo by: Spc. Lee Elder, 133rd MPAD

From Foreign Policy Blog:

One untold story about the security pact that the Iraqi cabinet approved today is the role of Iran. Mary Beth Sheridan's article in the Washington Post leaves this clue:

[T]he accord was attacked by Iraqi politicians when a near-final draft was distributed last month. Some explained their turnabout this week by noting that the U.S. government had accepted last-minute changes demanded by the Iraqi Cabinet.

The changes were mostly minor, according to people close to the negotiations, but may have allowed Iraqi politicians to portray themselves as driving a tough bargain. Lawmakers are wary of appearing too pro-American, and some faced pressure from Iran, which strongly opposes the accord, Iraqi officials and analysts said.

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My Comment: Iraq is predominantly Arab .... not Persian. The only similarities between the two is religion .... culturally they are on the opposite sides of the rainbow.