Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman for al-Sadr's Sa'eroun political bloc, told The Associated Press that Iraq's sovereignty was going to be the new government's "guiding principle." Al-Sadr's rise threatens Iran's claim to speak on behalf of Iraq's Shiite majority, a precedent that could fuel independent Shiite movements elsewhere. "Iran won't accept the creation of a Shiite bloc that is a threat to its interests. Al-Sadr has said he wants the militias absorbed into the national security forces, a move Iran would find difficult to accept. That gives Iran — and al-Abadi — leverage over al-Sadr to moderate his positions on the militias and Iran.

Source: Fox News May 20, 2018 07:31 UTC