Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
cross_type 6.04 — strongly supporting 42 facts
Iran exerts significant political and military influence in Iraq through its support for various Shiite militias and proxy groups, as detailed in [1], [2], and [3]. This relationship is characterized by Iran's strategic efforts to expand its regional footprint, counter Western influence, and utilize Iraq as a key component of its 'forward defense' strategy, as noted in [4], [5], and [6].
Facts (42)
Sources
Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org 15 facts
claimIsrael's current military focus is countering Shiite militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen to limit Iranian regional leverage.
claimTürkiye's support for Islamist movements in Libya, Syria, and Yemen caused its diplomatic, political, trade, and investment relations with most Gulf countries, Iraq, and Iran to shift into tensions and conflict.
claimIran facilitated Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault and enabled rocket and drone strikes by Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Shiite militias in Iraq through the provision of weapons and logistical support.
claimIran 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.
accountTürkiye scaled back military operations in Iraq and reduced financial and military support for Islamist groups across the Middle East and North Africa, leading to improved relations with Gulf countries, Iraq, and Iran.
claimIraq experiences ongoing tensions between Iranian-backed militias and the legitimate Iraqi government.
claimSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sought to contain Iranian regional expansion in Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
claimBetween 2011 and 2020, Iranian policies helped destabilize Arab states such as Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen through the use of militias to execute regional aims.
claimCurrent regional policies often entangle Middle Eastern states in direct or proxy conflicts, such as Israel’s tensions with Iran, Türkiye’s intervention in Syria and Iraq, and the military involvement of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
accountBefore 2011, Türkiye maintained positive relations with Iraq and Iran and actively fostered trade, economic, and political collaborations with Gulf states, Egypt, and Arab countries in North Africa.
claimIran's traditional strategies to regain influence—including reasserting the power of allies in Gaza and Lebanon, rallying the Assad regime in Syria, and deploying Iraqi and Yemeni militias against Israel—have proven inadequate.
claimIran sustains its regional leverage and thwarts Israel's ambitions by supporting its allies near Israel and reinforcing its militias in Iraq and Yemen.
claimIran and Israel have played central roles in perpetuating violence across Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
accountIran supported Hezbollah during the Lebanese protests of 2019–2021 and backed Iraq's ruling Shiite factions during the mass protests of 2019 to help these allies maintain power.
claimIsrael escalated its military offensives against Iran and its proxies in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen in response to attacks from the Iranian bloc.
An Integrated U.S. Strategy to Address Iran's Nuclear and Regional ... carnegieendowment.org 14 facts
referenceMichael Eisenstadt and Michael Knights analyzed the future of Iran's militant proxies in Iraq, specifically focusing on 'mini-Hizballahs' and Revolutionary Guard-affiliated groups, in a May 9, 2017, War on the Rocks article.
perspectiveThe United States should prioritize keeping Iran out of the Golan Heights and Israel's border areas over limiting Iranian control of lines of communication in Syria and Iraq.
claimA small, enduring U.S. military presence in Iraq provides political influence that the United States can use to check Iran's policies and seek negotiated political outcomes.
accountThe administration of U.S. President George W. Bush attempted to intimidate Iran militarily and support Iranian democracy activists between 2000 and 2008, yet during this period, Iran attacked U.S. forces in Iraq, causing approximately 1,000 U.S. casualties, and the Iranian reform movement withered.
accountSince the U.S. drawdown from Iraq in 2011, the United States has maintained a force presence of roughly 30,000–40,000 troops in the Middle East to conduct missions such as operations against the Islamic State, ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf, and deter destabilizing Iranian behavior.
perspectiveRussia has no compelling interests regarding Iranian activism in Iraq, the Gulf, and Yemen.
procedureU.S. military and intelligence activities should focus on three objectives: (1) optimizing force posture and presence to deter problematic Iranian behavior, especially regarding the nuclear program and freedom of navigation; (2) light military deployments, especially in Iraq and Syria, to build political leverage and prevent Iran from achieving objectives that threaten the United States and its partners; (3) direct covert actions and maritime interdictions to directly counter Iran’s destabilizing behavior.
claimIran and Saudi Arabia are on opposing sides in the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, and their involvement, including the provision of weapons and money, has exacerbated these conflicts.
claimThe United States and Iran could find common ground in Iraq regarding political arrangements that maintain a strong central government while preventing Sunni alienation that could lead to renewed armed conflict.
claimIn Syria and Iraq, which are core areas of Iranian influence, the Iranian government is unlikely to be deterred or persuaded to curtail its investments.
claimHanin Ghaddar argued in a November 23, 2016, Washington Institute for Near East Policy analysis that Iran may be utilizing Iraq and Syria as a bridge to reach Lebanon.
claimIran is likely to acquiesce to a long-term American military presence in Iraq if Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Iraqi leadership privately press the case in Tehran, provided the force levels are low enough that Iran does not perceive them as a threat.
accountThe second Gulf War diminished the threat Iraq posed to Iran and removed the buffer Iraq provided against Iranian force and influence projection into the Levant.
claimIran's primary objective regarding lines of communication in Syria and Iraq is to maintain control over as many routes as possible to facilitate the movement of the IRGC Quds Force, Hezbollah, and other Shia militias, while ensuring battlefield flexibility and developing diversified supply routes.
Policy Steps to Prevent a Nuclear Iran | The Washington Institute washingtoninstitute.org 4 facts
claimIran maintains pressure on adversaries by creating threats near their borders, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shia militants in Iraq.
claimUnited States military forces face risks in Iraq and the Gulf if the United States conducts strikes against Iran or if Iran retaliates, requiring the United States to commit substantial forces to prepare for such contingencies.
claimThe author asserts that military strikes have a more successful record of stopping nuclear programs than diplomacy, citing the 1981 strikes in Iraq and 2007 strikes in Syria as successful, while characterizing the 1994 Agreed Framework with North Korea and the JCPOA with Iran as failures.
claimIt is unclear if U.S. and Israeli policymakers know how to effectuate regime change in Iran without resorting to an Iraq- or Afghanistan-style military occupation, an option that few in the United States are prepared to contemplate.
Iran's Geopolitical Footprint: Regional Power or Global Contender? moderndiplomacy.eu 3 facts
claimIran maintains the 'Axis of Resistance,' a coalition including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, and various Iraqi Shiite militias, to counter Israeli and Western influence.
claimIran supports various political and militant groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, and various Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, to challenge the regional dominance of its adversaries.
claimIran expands its influence in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon to secure its western flank and limit the influence of hostile powers near its borders.
Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the Iran war atlanticcouncil.org 2 facts
claimIran maintains a network of non-state armed organizations across the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, including Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
accountThe United States is conducting strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq in response to attacks on US bases and diplomatic facilities inside Iraq.
“Grave Peril” as Crisis Expands Across the Middle East betterworldcampaign.org 1 fact
claimBorder crossings between Iran and Iraq remain open but operate under restrictions, generally allowing Iraqi nationals to enter Iraq and Iranian nationals to return to Iran.
How to Handle Iran's Nuclear Ambitions - New Lines Institute newlinesinstitute.org 1 fact
claimOver the last 30 years, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has gained extensive control over Iran's military, economy, political, and foreign policy, as well as proxy networks in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.
Beyond “Maximum Pressure” in US Policy on Iran: Leveraging ... mei.edu 1 fact
perspectiveRobert S. Ford published an article in the Middle East Institute on November 26, 2024, arguing that United States success in Iraq requires being a more reliable partner than Iran.
Escalation in the Middle East | MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES msf-me.org 1 fact
claimMedecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) maintains a network of medical and humanitarian programs in Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Yemen, providing healthcare through hospitals, clinics, and mobile medical teams.