Iran’s widening influence in the Middle East—already under pressure from the U.S.—also faces growing resistance from within its close regional allies, Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, discontent among the country’s Shiite Muslim community with Iranian influence was reflected in cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s victory in this month’s election. Mr. Sadr, himself a Shiite, is a fierce nationalist whose supporters sometimes chant slogans criticizing Iran, the region’s top Shiite power.

Source: Wall Street Journal May 24, 2018 21:00 UTC