What is Iraqi PM after in Tehran?
By Mehdi Ebrahim
Staff writer
Today’s visit of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the prime minister of Iraq, to Iran occurs amid a highly sensitive and tense regional environment. During the trip, it is expected that key agendas related to such developments will be discussed and debated. Most likely, Sudani’s discussions in Tehran will focus on two main topics: the current situation in Syria and the position of Iraqi resistance groups. Issues concerning Syria and the resistance groups have decisive and sensitive dimensions for regional stability and the Iran-Iraq relationship. Additionally, topics such as energy and gas may also receive attention during the visit. The halt of Iran’s gas exports to Iraq signifies a serious disruption in the country’s electricity supply, especially since Iraq’s gas import contract from Turkmenistan has not yet entered the operational phase.
Sudani’s visit reflects the concerns of the Iraqi government as well as its efforts to align the perspectives of regional actors and present an image of a neutral yet active mediator. Recently, speculations have arisen regarding the potential resumption of US attacks against resistance group positions in Iraq and even a possible regime change, similar to what occurred in Syria. Despite the suspension of missile and drone attacks on occupied territories under continuous pressure from the prime minister and some members of the Coordination Framework, the resistance groups or factions remain a worrying source for the Zionist regime and the United States. Simply halting these attacks does not seem sufficient for the latter two, and there are serious concerns about the military capabilities and armaments of these groups.
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