Iraq fears Iranian influence ahead of polls
BAGHDAD: Iran’s influence is looming large as Iraqis prepare to head to the polls for parliamentary elections in May, with many in the country worried that Teheran may be looking to strengthen its political grip on Baghdad through the ballot box.
Iranian support and military advisers helped Baghdad’s Syiahled government beat back the Islamic State group. But with IS militants now largely defeated militarily, Iran’s expanding influence has emerged as one of Iraq’s most divisive issues ahead of the balloting.
That influence has sown fear among Iraq’s disenchanted minority Sunnis, who bore the brunt of the war’s destruction, and has also caused concern in Washington.
Despite tensions between the United States and Iran, both remain key allies of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s government.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis last month accused Iran of “mucking around” in Iraq’s upcoming elections, telling reporters the US has what he called “worrisome evidence” that Iran is funneling “not an insignificant amount of money” into Iraq to try to sway votes. Baghdad rejected the accusation. Government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi stressed that the use of foreign money in domestic politics “is illegal and unconstitutional”.
“The government is taking great efforts to hold free and fair elec-
tions and prevent the manipulation of election results,” he said.
When entire divisions of Iraq’s military disintegrated following the fall of the city of Mosul to IS in the summer of 2014, Iranian influence soared.
Weeks before the US began a bombing campaign against IS, Iranian advisers and support for Iraqi Syiah militias, which became
known as Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU), helped halt IS’ advance, which came dangerously close to Baghdad. From then on, the militias became instrumental in the battle against IS.
More than 500 members of the paramilitary forces or political figures associated with the militias are now running for parliament.
Saleh al-Mutlaq, a longtime Iraqi politician and former deputy prime minister, said he expects candidates with ties to the Syiah militias to do well in upcoming elections.
“These elections will be disastrous for this country,” he said.
“The PMU will be a key player in the political process and this will give Iran a role and a word in forming the government and in choosing a prime minister.”