Iran’s concerns escalate over developments in Iraq

Reporting by PMOI/MEK

Iran, May 18, 2020—Recent developments in Iraq have raised eyebrows among senior Iranian regime officials in Tehran and many are publicly voicing their concerns. Sa’dollah Zarei, a brigadier general in Iran known for his pro-regime articles, wrote the following in Kayhan daily, the mouthpiece of Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“Iraq is undergoing very dangerous circumstances. The U.S. military presence is considered the most important security challenge. The Americans are also imposing immense pressure to maintain their forces in Iraq. This clearly indicates that despite what some may say in their remarks, this country has a long-term agenda to remain in Iraq and this can evolve into a very significant change of events for Iraq’s future,” the May 17 piece reads in part.

Mustafa al-Kadhimi has recently been appointed as the Prime Minister of Iraq. The Kayhan piece also sheds light on the Iranian regime’s concerns in this regard. “The appointment of Abdolvahab al-Saedi as head of the anti-terrorism police force in Iraq is a sign from the new Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Saedi is a general who enjoys the support of both the Americans and the Baathists.”

“Furthermore, Al-Kadhemi inviting NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for a visit to Iraq and announcing a new round of talks between Washington and Baghdad regarding a security agreement raises the probability of important security transitions taking place inside the Iraqi government,” the article adds.

#Iraq
Demonstrations continue against the candidacy of Mohamed Tawfiq Allawi as the country's prime minister. Protesters are describing him as a figure very close to #Iran's regime.pic.twitter.com/z13qJWsm2T

— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 6, 2020

“Shiite groups in meetings with al-Kadhimi have been reassured that in contrast to Mohamed Tawfiq Allawi, al-Kadhimi is committed to conducting talks with their leaders and groups, who will continue their engagement under the parliament framework. However, al-Kadhimi has recently taken specific measures suggesting that these pledges have already lost their weight in the very first days of his premiership,” the article concludes with grave concerns about Tehran’s future interests in Baghdad.

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A program broadcast by Al-Hurra TV on February 4, 2020, explored a list of 32,000 Iraqis, many of whom are politicians and senior commanders of paramilitary forces, who are getting their paycheck from the Iranian regime.

“Documents reveal that 32,000 Iraqis are directly getting their salaries from Iran, and at the top of the list are commanders of armed paramilitary forces who claim to be Iraqis but are closely tied to Iran,” Al-Hurra reported, adding that many of the persons on the list occupied top seats in the government.

The documents were first obtained and published by the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Many of the people included in the list have great influence and clout in government bodies, especially the security forces.

“This list is being discussed while the people of Iraq are in the midst of a revolution against the ruling class and the influence of Iran in the government institutions of this country,” Al-Hurra reports.

Since protests began in Iraq in October 2019, Iran-backed militias have killed hundreds of protesters in the streets, and have abducted and murdered many activists and protests organizers in their homes. This list further proves the violent intervention of the mullahs’ regime in Iraq, which Al-Hurra describes as “the occupation of Iraq by the mullahs’ regime.”

Following is a short glimpse of some of the people who are on Iran’s payroll.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, commander of the Kata’ib Hezbollah militia

One of the most prominent names in the list of Iran agents in Iraq is Jafar Mohammed Ali al-Ibrahimi, also known as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Al-Muhandis was killed on January 3, 2020, in a U.S.-led drone strike against a convoy that also carried Qassem Soleimani, the chief terrorist of the Iranian regime and then-commander of the terrorist Quds Force. Al-Muhandis has been working with the Revolutionary Guards since 1984. He was actively involved in terrorist operations against the MEK in Iraq.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei

Hadi al-Amiri, commander of the Badr Corps

His full name is Hadi Farhan al-Amiri and he is currently the commander of the Badr Corps. He was also deputy commander of Kata’ib, second to al-Muhandis, and the deputy commander of the Hashd al-Shaabi, the umbrella organization of militia forces backed by the Iranian regime headed by Falih al-Fayyadh, the national advisor of former Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki.

Amiri also heads the “Al-Fath” coalition in the parliament and had close ties to Qassem Soleimani.

Hadi al-Amiri with Qasem Soleimani