The commander of IRGC Quds Force has told Iraqi leaders that Iran would support the final results of Iraq’s elections, but all complaints should be addressed.
General Esmail Ghaani visited Iraq immediately after a drone attack on Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s residence on Sunday and met with several senior officials and Shiite militia commanders to contain a possible crisis in relations.
The drone attack that did not harm al-Kadhimi is believed to have been launched by Iran-backed militias whose political blocs lost in recent parliamentary elections and are contesting the results. They have been holding protests to change the election outcome.
Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad, Iraj Masjedi told Al Alam television that Ghaani reaffirmed Iran’s support for the election results but demanded that complaints and protests to be dealt with according to the law.
Iran has been building a network of political and military support within Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, but since 2019, many Iraqis have been protesting Tehran’s influence, complaining that it contributes to corruption and mismanagement. Iraq witnessed large anti-government protests in 2019 and 2020.