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related 7.46 — strongly supporting 152 facts
Iraq and Iran are geographically and politically linked through a long history of conflict, including the Iran-Iraq War [1] and the 2003 invasion of Iraq [2]. Their relationship is defined by Iran's strategic influence in Iraq {fact:4, 12, 31}, the presence of Iran-aligned militias in Iraq {fact:20, 32}, and their shared involvement in regional security dynamics {fact:2, 3, 38, 40}.
Facts (152)
Sources
War by Proxy: Iran's Growing Footprint in the Middle East - CSIS csis.org 24 facts
claimThe Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) remains active in Iraq and has enhanced Iran’s political, military, and economic power.
claimThere are indications that Iran may move some of its missiles and missile parts to Iraq to avoid Israeli pressure in Lebanon and Syria.
referenceMatthew McInnis published 'Big Questions in Iran’s Great Iraq Game' through the American Enterprise Institute on September 21, 2016.
claimThe Economist reported on March 8, 2018, that Saudi Arabia's use of soft power in Iraq is causing nervousness in Iran.
claimThe regional conflict involving Iran includes the war in Yemen, the Houthi use of ballistic missiles against Saudi Arabia, an escalating conflict with Israel in Syria, the growth of Shia militia forces in Iraq, targeted assassinations, and cyberattacks.
accountProtesters in Iraq stormed an Iranian consulate and an oil facility during intensified unrest on September 7, 2018, as reported by Aref Mohammed and Raya Jalabi for Reuters.
claimIraqi nationalism and anti-Iranian sentiments among Iraqis persist from the Iran-Iraq War.
accountGrand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa in June 2014 urging fighters to join the Iraqi government’s security organizations rather than paramilitary groups tied to Iran.
claimIran transferred ballistic missiles to militias in Iraq, which are capable of striking targets in Israel, according to reports from Reuters and the Times of Israel.
claimPotential vulnerabilities for Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) include long-term overextension due to a weak economy and continuing divisions among Iraq's Shia community regarding Iran and its doctrine of velayat-e faqih (the Islamic system of clerical rule).
claimPotential vulnerabilities for Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) include long-term overextension due to a weak economy and continuing divisions among Iraq's Shia community regarding Iran and its doctrine of velayat-e faqih (the Islamic system of clerical rule).
claimThe regional conflict involving Iran includes the war in Yemen, the Houthi use of ballistic missiles against Saudi Arabia, an escalating conflict with Israel in Syria, the growth of Shia militia forces in Iraq, targeted assassinations, and cyberattacks.
referenceAref Mohammed and Raya Jalabi reported for Reuters on September 7, 2018, in an article titled 'Unrest Intensifies in Iraq as Iranian Consulate and Oil Facility Stormed,' on the escalation of protests in Iraq targeting Iranian interests.
claimThe southern route of Iran's land bridge passes through Iran, the Iraqi border town of Al-Walid, Al-Tanf in Syria, Damascus, and into Lebanon.
claimThe central route of Iran's land bridge passes through Iran, central Iraq, the Iraqi border town of Al-Qaim, Syria's Abu Kamal and Dayr az Zawr, and into Lebanon.
claimIran has assisted Shia militia forces in Iraq in building missile production capabilities, with factories reportedly located in Jurf al-Sakhar (north of Kerbala) and Al-Zafaraniya (east of Baghdad).
claimThere are indications that Iran may move some of its missiles and missile parts to Iraq due to Israeli pressure in Lebanon and Syria.
claimThe People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI) claimed in 2017 that Iran trains thousands of mercenaries annually to fight in the wars in Syria and Iraq.
claimThe northern route of Iran's land bridge passes through Iran, Iraq's Kurdish region, the Iraqi city of Sinjar, northeastern Syrian cities like Al-Hasakah, and into Lebanon.
referenceMichael Knights published 'Iran’s Foreign Legion: The Role of Iraqi Shiite Militias in Syria' through The Washington Institute for Near East Policy on June 27, 2013.
claimThe Arab Spring, beginning in 2011, created opportunities for Iran to expand its influence by exploiting the weakening of regimes and the onset of insurgencies in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
claimThere is wide variation in Iraqi views of Iran, including among the Shia community.
claimPublic opinion polls indicate that many Iraqis are highly critical of Iran’s role in Iraq.
claimPublic opinion polls suggest that support for Iran across the Middle East, including in Iraq, has declined.
Iran at a Historical Crossroads - E-International Relations e-ir.info 16 facts
quoteEuronews reported that 'Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and its Quds Force do in Iraq what the East India Company once did in India – plundering wealth to finance an empire.'
claimIran extracts resources from the Iraqi economy to subsidize its own needs and fund its proxy groups, effectively using Iraq as a 'cash cow' due to Iraq's large, non-sanctioned oil output.
claimThe 2003 US invasion of Iraq resulted in chaos and insurgency, a scenario that Iran's leadership seeks to avoid.
claimBy late 2024, Iran-backed militias in Iraq, such as Kata’ib Hezbollah, significantly reduced their rocket and drone attacks, reportedly due to fear of United States retaliation.
claimAnalysts suggest that Iran's dominance in Iraq is at risk of slipping due to Iraqi nationalist pushback and the potential for the Iraqi government to assert greater independence.
perspectiveThe Iranian regime views losing influence in an Arab country, particularly one geographically and socially close like Iraq, as a catastrophe that could have negative repercussions inside Iran.
claimIn early 2025, the United States implemented a renewed sanctions push that stopped Iraq's waiver to import electricity from Iran, aiming to reduce a key income source for the Iranian government.
claimIran has utilized its proxy network, particularly in Iraq, as a partial economic lifeline to mitigate the impact of US-led sanctions.
claimThe movement led by Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr represents an Arab nationalist trend that could potentially sever economic and logistical lifelines between Iraq and Iran.
claimIran generates revenue through schemes in Iraq such as smuggling sanctioned Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil and having militias steal Iraqi oil or win inflated contracts.
claimIran utilizes a network of allied militias and proxy forces, collectively known as the Axis of Resistance, to project power and oppose Israel and the United States across Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
claimThe Iranian theocratic state has demonstrated resilience through historical turmoil, including the war with Iraq in the 1980s, international sanctions, and domestic protests.
claimIran's proxy network, which includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza/Palestine, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, and the Houthi movement in Yemen, has historically functioned as a 'ring of fire' to provide strategic depth and a buffer against direct conflict on Iranian soil.
claimIran cultivated numerous Shi’a militias under the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella in Iraq to exert political influence and counter United States and Sunni forces.
accountSaddam Hussein's Iraq attempted to project regional power by invading Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990, and by supporting Palestinian militants through payments to the families of suicide bombers.
claimIraq is the only neighboring country where Iran currently wields decisive influence.
Iran's Proxy Strategy and the Extent of Surrogate Autonomy - AHS alexanderhamiltonsociety.org 15 facts
perspectiveThe United States should adopt a more removed approach in Iraq to allow Iraqi resentment of Iranian heavy-handedness to grow organically, while subtly supporting political parties that oppose Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) politicians and warlords.
claimIran buys influence in Iraq by supporting loyal groups like the Badr Organization, while navigating nationalistic trends.
claimIran's control of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq is best described as collaborative due to leadership changes and waning popular support.
claimU.S. intervention in Iraq has largely failed to generate favor for Washington, with the Western footprint causing many Iraqis to seek Iranian support.
claimThe deaths of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis have sizably hindered Iranian operations in Iraq.
claimIn Syria, the Sunni-majority demographic forced Iran to rely on sectarian-aligned proxies from Lebanon and Iraq rather than indigenous actors.
claimSaudi Arabia views Yemen as its sphere of influence, similar to how Iran views Iraq.
accountDuring a visit to Iraq, Major General Esmail Ghaani gifted PMF leaders silver rings instead of the cash they expected, which was interpreted as a sign of Iran's strained cash flow.
claimIran views its assets and influence in Iraq as strategically important and intends to work to strengthen its strained position there.
claimIran's influence in Iraq is currently less robust than it was several years ago.
claimMajor General Esmail Ghaani replaced Qasem Soleimani as the Iranian commander responsible for working with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq.
claimAl-Hash al-Shaabi in Iraq, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), is a deep network of Shi'a proxies supported by Iran.
claimCooperative relationships between Iran and groups in Iraq fluctuate due to the influence of geopolitics, popular opinion, and personal relationships, which exposes fault lines in these alliances.
claimIran's financial constraints, caused by reimposed sanctions following the American exit from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the COVID-19 pandemic, have negatively impacted its influence in Iraq.
accountThe Iraqi government required Major General Esmail Ghaani to apply for a visa on his second visit to Iraq as the newly-appointed chief of Iranian operations.
Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org 14 facts
accountDespite setbacks including the collapse of Hamas, the weakening of Hezbollah, and the fall of the Assad regime, Iran continues to rebuild its network of influence and support its allies and militias in Iraq and Yemen.
claimTürkiye's support for Islamist groups in Libya, Syria, and Yemen caused its diplomatic, political, and trade relations with most Gulf countries, Iraq, and Iran to deteriorate into tensions and confrontation.
claimRegional actors are currently involved in direct or proxy conflicts: Israel is in tension with Iran; Türkiye is intervening in Syria and Iraq; the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are militarily involved in Yemen; and Egypt is involved in Libya, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa.
claimIran's traditional strategies to regain influence, such as reasserting the power of its allies in Gaza and Lebanon, rallying the Assad regime in Syria, or deploying Iraqi and Yemeni militias in cross-border operations against Israel, have proven inadequate.
claimBetween 2011 and 2020, Iranian policies, specifically the reliance on militias to execute regional aims, contributed to the destabilization of Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
claimSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sought to contain Iranian regional expansion in Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
claimThe government of Iran expressed anger toward Türkiye due to Turkish threats against the Iranian-backed Assad regime in Syria, while the government of Iraq's relationship with Türkiye deteriorated due to persistent Turkish military incursions into northern Iraq.
accountBefore 2011, Türkiye maintained positive relations with Iraq and Iran while fostering trade, economic, and political collaborations with Gulf states, Egypt, and North African Arab countries.
claimDespite strategic retreats, Iran is likely to leverage its military, financial, and organizational assets to rebuild cohesion among its proxies in Palestine and Lebanon, reinforce factions in Iraq and Yemen, and adapt to the situation in Syria.
accountFollowing the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Iran established a network of armed militias, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, and various Shiite parties in Iraq, to serve as a protective shield against American and Israeli adversaries.
claimIran and Israel have played central roles in perpetuating violence across Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
accountIsrael escalated its military offensives against Iran and its proxies in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in response to attacks from the Iranian bloc.
claimIsrael's current strategic focus is countering Shiite militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen to limit Iranian regional leverage.
claimIraq faced internal tensions between Iranian-backed militias and the legitimate government.
Experts react: How the US war with Iran is playing out around the ... atlanticcouncil.org 8 facts
claimIraq serves as a venue for confrontation between the United States and Iran, with Iraq frequently pulled into conflict between the two rivals despite its attempts to maintain relations with both.
claimA weakened Iran or the potential fall of the Iranian regime presents an opportunity to alter the political course of Iraq, potentially binding it closer to the West and reducing Iranian influence.
claimIraq and Iran maintain close political coordination between elites, significant economic linkages, and the continued presence of Iraqi militias supported and directed by Iran.
claimIraq and Iran maintain close political coordination between elites, significant economic linkages, and the continued presence of Iraqi militias supported and directed by Iran.
accountProminent Iraqi militias, such as Asa’ib ahl al-Haq (AAH), have announced their readiness to disarm under pressure from the United States, indicating a focus on protecting their own political and economic interests in Iraq rather than acting as tools of Iran.
claimIraq serves as a venue for confrontation between the United States and Iran, often being pulled into conflict between the two rivals despite Iraqi attempts to maintain relations with both.
accountProminent Iraqi militias, such as Asa’ib ahl al-Haq (AAH), have announced their readiness to disarm under pressure from the United States, demonstrating a focus on their own political and economic interests in Iraq rather than acting as a tool of Iran.
claimA weakened Iranian government or the fall of the Iranian regime provides an opportunity to alter the course of Iraq, potentially binding Iraq more closely to the West and reducing Iranian influence.
Iran War: Kinetic, Cyber, Electronic and Psychological Warfare ... resecurity.com 8 facts
claimThe United States advised American citizens to immediately leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen due to escalating Iranian strikes and planned US retaliatory strikes.
accountThe 2025–2026 Iran War involved the extensive use of GPS spoofing and jamming by Iranian state and proxy forces, which impacted maritime, aviation, and military operations across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Iraq/Iran airspace.
accountIranian missile and drone attacks have targeted civilian and military infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Qatar.
claimMajor airspace across Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Syria remains challenging, resulting in widespread flight cancellations and diversions.
claimIran's military strategy involves widening the conflict geographically by utilizing Iraq as a launchpad for operations.
claimIraq is becoming a new front in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US/Israel.
measurementTotalEnergies reported a 15% loss in oil and gas output due to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran causing field closures across the Middle East, including in the UAE, Qatar, and Iraq.
claimThe conflict involves geographic flashpoints within Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Gaza, and critical maritime zones including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
The crises in the Middle East: reshaping the region's geopolitical ... link.springer.com 8 facts
claimThe weakness of Syrian and Iraqi governance has allowed regional powers Turkey and Iran to expand their influence, project power beyond their borders, and assert their interests in regional affairs.
claimIran utilizes regional proxy powers, including the Shia militia Hizbulla in Lebanon and various groups in Iraq and Syria, to deepen regional crises and reduce opportunities for diplomacy, according to a 2023 DW News report.
claimSaeed (2019b) argues that because the complexities of the Kurdish question in Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq have been neglected, similar unexpected events to the October 2023 conflict could occur in these countries.
claimSaudi Arabia and Iran are competing for regional leadership and influence in conflicts occurring in Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Iraq, which exacerbates sectarian divisions and undermines stability.
claimHizbulla and Hamas in Lebanon and Palestine, and Kurdish liberation movements in Syria, Turkey, Iraq, and Iran, have a crucial impact on the balance of power in regional rivalries.
claimIran's involvement in regional conflicts in Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, and Syria has heightened tensions with Kurdish groups and complicated efforts to address the Kurdish question.
claimThe Kurds are an ethnic group with distinct cultural and linguistic characteristics inhabiting a contiguous region spanning Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
claimThe geopolitical rivalry between the Shia and Sunni blocs, represented by Iran and Saudi Arabia, has fueled sectarian tensions and proxy wars in Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, Iraq, and Yemen, complicating peaceful conflict resolution.
Main Drivers Shaping Iran's Foreign Policy Under Mahmoud ... jlps.univsul.edu.iq 6 facts
referenceZebar Azeez Mohammed and Dr. Mahdi Mostafa Faqi Ahmad conducted a study examining the drivers of Iran's foreign policy toward Iraq during the presidencies of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani between 2005 and 2021.
claimThe study identified five primary drivers influencing Iran's foreign policy toward Iraq between 2005 and 2021: political, security, ideological, economic, and regional factors.
claimThe study concludes that the influence of these drivers resulted in Iran becoming a 'semi-state dominant' power in Iraq, with the balance of power shifting in Iran's favor.
claimThe study characterizes the Islamic Republic of Iran as a revisionist state that maintains a strong presence in the political equation of Iraq.
claimDuring the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013), security and ideology were the most influential drivers of Iran's foreign policy toward Iraq.
claimDuring the presidency of Hassan Rouhani (2013-2021), security, economic, and regional factors were the most influential drivers of Iran's foreign policy toward Iraq.
Iran's 'Axis of Resistance': The proxy forces shaping Mideast conflicts latimes.com 5 facts
claimMost groups within the 'Axis of Resistance' are composed of members of the Shiite branch of Islam, which forms major populations in the 'Shiite Crescent' stretching from Iran through Iraq and Syria to Lebanon.
claimThe Popular Mobilization Forces is an umbrella organization for mostly Shiite militias in Iraq that are technically part of the Iraqi armed forces, though some receive aid and training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
claimIran has established a network of allied militias and political movements across Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, and Yemen, which are collectively known as the 'Axis of Resistance'.
quotePresident Donald Trump stated: "From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. The United States, Trump vowed, was determined to ensure that Iran’s proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces."
accountIraqi dictator Saddam Hussein restricted Iranian influence in Iraq for years, viewing Tehran as a threat, and fought a war against Iran in the 1980s.
The path forward on Iran and its proxy forces - Brookings Institution brookings.edu 4 facts
claimThe January 2020 U.S. assassination of Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani and a key Shiite militia leader in Iraq had relatively limited long-term impact on the strength, durability, or efficacy of Iran's 'axis of resistance'.
perspectiveThe Biden administration's use of force against Iran's proxies appears to have weakened individual militias and caused attacks emanating from Iraq to slow or halt.
claimThe 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, which eliminated the Baathist government, was a key factor in the convergence of diverse Iraqi Shiite militias under Iranian coordination.
claimHistorically, Iran's most valuable strategic openings have resulted from missteps by the United States and its regional partners, such as the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The Implications Of Iran's Failed Proxy Strategy - Hoover Institution hoover.org 3 facts
claimIran's remaining proxy groups, including the Houthis in Yemen and Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq, have been degraded.
claimIran's current military and strategic situation is compared to the failed rhetoric of Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1960s and Iraq's Saddam Hussein in the 1990s, both of whom vowed to eliminate Israel.
accountFor over four decades, Iran has invested in proxy militias, beginning with Hezbollah in the early 1980s and expanding to include groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
Iran's Regional Armed Network - Council on Foreign Relations cfr.org 3 facts
claimIran's proxy network includes groups from Shiite Muslim-majority countries like Iraq and Lebanon, as well as groups from Sunni-majority areas including the Palestinian territories, Syria, and Yemen.
accountDuring Iran's first direct attack on Israeli soil in April 2024, Iranian partners in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen launched drones and rockets at Israel to support Tehran's air strikes.
accountDuring Iran's first-ever direct attack on Israeli soil in April 2024, Iranian partners in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen launched drones and rockets at Israel to support Tehran's air strikes.
How active have Iran's proxy groups been since the start of the war? theconversation.com 3 facts
claimIranian Kurdish groups located in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq have been subjected to attacks following reports that the United States might arm them to fight the Iranian regime.
claimThe United States rejected Nouri al-Maliki as the nominee for prime minister of Iraq due to the perception that he stoked sectarian tensions during his previous term from 2006 to 2014 and maintains close ties to the Iranian regime.
claimThe primary elements of Iran's proxy network include Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Syrian government under the Assad family, Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen.
Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the Iran war atlanticcouncil.org 3 facts
claimIran's proxy network includes Lebanese Hezbollah, Palestinian militant organizations such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and Yemen’s Houthi movement.
claimIranian-backed militias in Iraq wield influence but face risks from nationalist backlash and sanctions.
accountThe United States is conducting strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq in response to attacks on US bases and diplomatic facilities inside Iraq.
The Limits of Iran's Proxy Empire | The New Yorker newyorker.com 3 facts
claimIran's allied militias in Iraq are fragmented.
claimThe Badr Organization, one of the largest Shiite militias and Iran's oldest proxy in Iraq, has not joined the war, as its leaders are part of the Iraqi government and benefit from lucrative oil contracts.
claimIran's allied militias in Iraq are fragmented, with smaller militias joining the war for ideological reasons and to avenge the death of Ali Khamenei.
Miscellanea: The War in Iran - A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry acoup.blog 2 facts
measurementThe war has resulted in the deaths of 13 American soldiers, 290 American soldiers wounded in action, 24 Israeli deaths, thousands of Israeli injuries, at least 1,000 civilian deaths in neutral countries (including Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia), and at least 1,000 Iranian civilian deaths plus Iranian military losses.
measurementIran is 3.5 times larger than Iraq and has roughly twice the population of Iraq.
Iran's Islamist Proxies in the Middle East - Wilson Center wilsoncenter.org 2 facts
quotePresident Donald Trump stated in May 2017: "From Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen, Iran funds, arms, and trains terrorists, militias, and other extremist groups that spread destruction and chaos across the region."
accountThe Badr Organization, a Shiite militia, was based in Iran during the rule of Saddam Hussein and returned to Iraq following the 2003 U.S. invasion.
Geopolitical, Strategic, and Humanitarian Implications of ... ardd-jo.org 2 facts
claimThe United States viewed the prospect of regime change in Iran as unattractive during the June 2025 war, due to its previous experiences in Iraq and the assessment that Iran is a larger, more complex state with a regime deeply embedded in its economy and civil society, lacking an organized political opposition.
claimThe United States viewed the prospect of regime change in Iran as unattractive due to its previous experiences in Iraq.
Consequences of the Russia-Ukraine War and the Changing Face ... rand.org 2 facts
referenceMeredith Reid Sarkees and Frank Wayman documented a list of historical conflicts and their major participants in their 2010 book 'Resort to War: 1816–2007', including the Crimean War (1853–1856, France/Great Britain/Ottoman Empire/Russia), the Lopez War (1864–1870, Argentina/Brazil/Paraguay/Uruguay), the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878, Russia/Ottoman Empire), the Boer War (1899–1902, Great Britain/Boers), the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905, Japan/Russia), the Russo-Polish War (1919–1921, Poland/Soviet Union), the Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936, Ethiopia/Italy), the Korean War (1950–1953, United States/North Korea/China/South Korea), the Vietnam War (1965–1975, United States/South Vietnam/North Vietnam), the Sino-Vietnamese War (1979–1987, Vietnam/China), the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989, Soviet Union/Afghanistan), and the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988, Iran/Iraq).
referenceThe Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) involved Iran and Iraq.
Reforming Iran's Energy Policy: Strategies for Sustainability ... jpia.princeton.edu 2 facts
measurementApproximately 20 to 25 percent of Iran's daily fuel production is smuggled to neighboring countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, according to Clawson (2024).
claimIran can pursue regional energy leadership by strengthening energy trade partnerships and collaborative renewable energy projects with neighboring countries, such as exporting electricity to Iraq or natural gas to Turkey.
A Status Quo Power in a Changing Region: Iran's Regionalism in ... cambridge.org 2 facts
claimIran and Turkey have managed to navigate their disagreements in Syria and Iraq without resorting to direct confrontation.
perspectiveIranian leader Ali Khamenei has frequently highlighted the Levant and Iraq as Iran's 'strategic depth,' which are crucial for shaping regional security arrangements and opposing US-led regional orders.
United States Foreign Intelligence Relationships everycrsreport.com 2 facts
claimCountries such as Turkey, Pakistan, Iran (under the Shah), Iraq, and Afghanistan have provided basing rights to the United States while facing higher political risks for doing so.
claimThe Iraqi National Intelligence Service became involved in the sectarian conflict between Shia and Sunni groups in Iraq and was linked to a proxy struggle for influence between the United States and Iran.
After the War: Rethinking Regional Security in the Middle ... arab-reform.net 1 fact
claimGulf states, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen are identified as pressure points through which Iran can threaten the wider regional and international system.
Beyond Missile Deterrence: The Rise of Algorithmic Superiority trendsresearch.org 1 fact
claimIran seeks to expand its strategic depth and strengthen its regional position through alliances and proxy networks in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
Could Iran's Proxy Model Reach the Sahel? – HORN REVIEW hornreview.org 1 fact
perspectiveThe Sahel region is structurally vulnerable to indirect strategies similar to those Iran has previously applied in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.
Ethnobotanical and Food Composition Monographs of Selected ... ouci.dntb.gov.ua 1 fact
referenceRivera D, Matilla-Riquer G, Obón C, and Alcaraz F (2012) published a diachronic ethnobotanical review of ancient and traditional plant uses for food and medicine in the Near East and the Caucasus, covering Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey.
Tracing the geopolitical influence and regional power dynamics in ... link.springer.com 1 fact
claimIran's geographic position links energy reserves from Kazakhstan to Iraq and the Caspian Sea to Gulf states, allowing Tehran to advance regional goals while under international isolation.
The Deafening Silence of Iran's Proxies - Institute for the Study of War understandingwar.org 1 fact
claimIran has threatened United States bases in the region, indicating that if the United States enters the conflict, Iraqi groups would likely target US bases in Iraq with rockets and drones, while Iran would likely fire ballistic missiles at US facilities in the Gulf.
Iran in crisis: the landscape after the Twelve-Day War - OSW osw.waw.pl 1 fact
accountDuring the 2010s, Iran successfully established a network of partners and clients in countries such as Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, benefiting from the failure of US policies in Iraq and Afghanistan and the upheavals of the Arab Spring.
Iran Country Report 2026 - BTI Transformation Index bti-project.org 1 fact
claimIran's regional strategy of 'forward defense' is a pursuit of regional hegemony, involving a network of militias in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria (until December 2024).
A Region at Capacity: War, Displacement, and the Limits of ... mecouncil.org 1 fact
claimThe conflict between Israel and Iran creates humanitarian pressures requiring Gulf countries, Iraq, and Jordan to provide food, shelter, and basic necessities to affected populations and support to businesses impacted by economic slowdowns.
How Jeffrey Epstein's intelligence ties go back decades middleeasteye.net 1 fact
accountBetween 1981 and 1986, the Reagan administration covertly sold arms to Iran, which was at war with Iraq, while Israel served as an intermediary and broker for the sales.
Editorials Supporting an Iran Nuclear Deal, January - September 2015 armscontrol.org 1 fact
claimThe Sacramento Bee editorial board stated on June 30, 2015, that Iran is currently fomenting conflict in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and across the region, but would be a greater global threat if armed with nuclear weapons.
The Iran Proxy Shield and Its Automated Axis of Resistence specialeurasia.com 1 fact
claimIran has exported a 'kit & assembly' industrial logic to Ansar Allah in Yemen, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, shifting logistics from smuggling finished missiles to transporting high-value, low-volume components like gyroscopes, sensors, and micro-engines.
Iran's Global Posture Hides Domestic Insecurities carnegieendowment.org 1 fact
claimIran collaborates with regional groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, the Badr Organization and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen, based on shared enmity toward Israel and the United States.
After Khamenei: Regional Reckoning and the Future of Iran's Proxy ... stimson.org 1 fact
claimIran formed, funded, and weaponized proxy networks in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, Syria, and Gaza as a cornerstone of its foreign policy.
Domestic and International Factors Affecting Iranian Foreign Policy ... academia.edu 1 fact
referenceAnoushiravan Ehteshami published 'Iran's International Posture After the Fall of Baghdad' in the Middle East Journal in 2004, analyzing Iran's foreign policy shifts following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.