Iranian Parliament Speaker Visits Iraq to Undermine US Influence Amid Rising Tensions

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for an official visit aimed at countering US efforts to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq. Iraq has recently become a focal point of diplomatic conflict between Iran and the United States, with President Donald Trump seeking to diminish Iraq's dependence on Iran.

During a press conference in Baghdad, Ghalibaf praised Iraq's stance during recent confrontations with the US and emphasized the need for Islamic countries to deepen cooperation without foreign interference, implicitly criticizing US involvement. His visit is part of Iran's strategy to shape a new regional order and strengthen bilateral ties among neighboring countries.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iran has maintained significant influence over Iraq's government and parliament through its support of Shiite factions. Trump saw an opportunity in the April elections to shift Iraq's political alignment by backing the new Prime Minister, Ali Al-Zaydi, on the condition that he form a government free of Iranian elements. Although Al-Zaydi was elected, he struggled to establish such a government.

Al-Zaydi attempted to disarm Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, successfully persuading three groups to agree to disarmament. However, the main militia, Kataib Hezbollah, demanded a full US military withdrawal and political autonomy for Iraqi decision-makers as conditions for disarmament, aligning with Iran's objectives. Al-Zaydi accepted these terms, and it was announced last week that US and coalition forces would withdraw by September 30.

Iranian media reports indicate that Ghalibaf's visit also aims to regulate the future of militia weapons post-US withdrawal. Additionally, Al-Zaydi reportedly plans to integrate the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella of Iranian-backed militias, into official Iraqi institutions. These developments mark a significant setback to Trump's goal of making Iraq a US ally independent of Iranian influence.