Iran-Iraq Relations
Abstract
With conventional military and WMD threats from Saddam Hussein's regime removed, Iran seeks to ensure that Iraq can never again become a threat to Iran, either with or without U.S. forces present in Iraq. Some believe that Iran wants to try to harness Iraq to Iran's broader regional policy goals and to help Iran defend against international criticism of Iran's nuclear program. Others believe Iran sees Iraq as providing lucrative investment opportunities and a growing market for Iranian products and contracts. Still others believe that Iran wants only stability in Iraq so that Iran's leaders can concentrate on addressing the unrest in Iran that followed that country's June 12, 2009, presidential election. This domestic unrest has given Iran another reason to exercise influence in Iraq -- to try to suppress Iranian dissidents located over the border inside Iraq. Iran has sought to achieve its goals in Iraq through several strategies: supporting pro-Iranian factions and armed militias, attempting to influence Iraqi political leaders and faction leaders, and building economic ties throughout Iraq that might accrue goodwill to Iran. It is Iran's support for armed Shiite factions that most concerns U.S. officials. That activity continues to pose a threat to U.S. efforts to stabilize Iraq, and has heightened the U.S. threat perception of Iran generally. Many of Iraq's current leaders were in exile in Iran during Saddam's rule, and see Iran as a mentor and an influential actor in Iraq. Even those who have longstanding ties to Iran have asserted themselves as nationalist defenders of Iraqi interests, but Iraq appears to be the subordinate partner in the relationship. Perhaps resenting this relationship, many Iraqi citizens have appeared to reject parties and factions who accept preponderant Iranian influence in Iraq. This sentiment has caused Iran to suffer key setbacks in the January 31, 2009, provincial elections and again in the March 7, 2010, national elections.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA520775
Entities
People
- Kenneth Katzman
Organizations
- Library of Congress