Since American-led military forces overthrew the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, empowering Iraq’s Shiite majority, a crucial question for Iraq and the region was the extent to which it would fall under the sway of Iran, the Shiite theocracy to the east. Iran gradually expanded its influence in Iraq through a web of political parties, Shiite clerics and militias, and it invested heavily in Shiite religious cities like Najaf, Karbala and Samarra. Iran sees Iraq as its literal gateway to regional influence — the first stop on a land bridge to its proxies in Syria and Lebanon. Iraq is also a major customer for Iranian goods that are not under sanction, including food and construction materials. But as Iran’s influence increased and America’s ebbed, Iraq has increasingly chafed at Iran’s presence and its efforts to insert sympathetic politicians into Iraq’s government.

Source: New York Times October 22, 2019 23:14 UTC