Why is Iraq hosting the Islamic Republic’s farewell?
Iraq is a sovereign country. It should not be used as a stage for the political theater of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
TL;DR
- Iraq should not be used as a stage for the political theater of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- Plans for funeral ceremonies of Iran's late supreme leader to pass through Iraqi cities like Najaf and Karbala are concerning.
- Iran has built influence in Iraq since 2003 through political parties, armed factions, economic networks, and religious symbolism.
- Ordinary Iraqis see a contrast between the state's failure to provide basic services and its readiness to honor a foreign leader.
- This situation is a warning for the United States, suggesting a need for reassessment of its policy supporting Iraqi institutions.
- The key test of Iraq's sovereignty is whether its institutions serve Baghdad or Tehran.