Strategic Council Online – Interview: Having stated that the recent movements in Iraq show that ISIS has a serious presence in regions among Kirkuk, Diyala and Salah-Adin provinces, a university professor said:” with mounting dissatisfactions in Iraq and the weakness of the central government in the country, the possibility to recruit forces and re-organization by ISIS as well as other terrorist groups will increase.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: December 31, 2021 was the deadline for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq under an agreement reached in July last year. However, five days before the deadline, the International Coalition by issuing a statement announced the end of the role of its combat forces in Iraq.
Seyed Reza Qazvini Ghorabi – Expert on Iraq affairs
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An analyst of West Asia affairs, explaining the new US strategy in Iraq after troop withdrawal, said: The United States seeks to change the military, security, and political arrangements in Iraq and build capacity for a possible normalization of Baghdad’s relations with the Zionist regime.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Iraq affairs said: Supporters of the US presence in Iraq think that with the withdrawal of America conditions similar to those created in Afghanistan will emerge and armed groups or similar ones will gain power in Iraq; but there are major differences between Iraq and Afghanistan.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on West Asia affairs commenting on the reasons for the evacuation of three US military bases in Syria said: The United States is a traditional ally of the Syrian Kurds and through supporting Kurdish autonomy has made efforts and is still making in order to have a place to infiltrate Syria, especially in the oil rich areas; but nevertheless, the Syrian army’s domination on most areas has forced them to end their occupation of three military bases in Deir ez-Zor and al-Hasakah provinces.
Strategic Council Online- Interview: An expert on Iraq commented on the recent visit of Mostafa Al-Kazemi, Iraqi Premier to Tehran and said:” Mostafa Al-Kazemi visit to Iran was his first visit after President Raisi took office. From political point of view, the visit was made one month before holding the Iraqi election, and is important for Al-Kazem who has made several counselling visits to regional countries.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An analyst of Iraq affairs, examining the political factions and the competition between parties and groups in the parliamentary elections to be held in Iraq in October, said: Due to the efforts of some currents and political figures in Iraq to postpone the elections, it seems that the elections in October are faced with ambiguities.
Strategic Council Online – Director of the Institute of International Relations, referring to the published news about the US effort to continue its presence in Iraq’s apparently, and based on its allegations, as an advisor, said: Given that such presence is at the request of the Iraqi government, the US forces will consider greater legitimacy for themselves and will be more open to gaining more concessions and imposing their favorable conditions.
Strategic Council Online-Interview: A university professor spoke of the reaction of Iraqi forces on self-defense, against the continuation of the presence of the occupying and aggressive forces “as their legitimate rights” and said:’ The US is seeking to reap political dividends in Iraq through projection and alleging Iran to support the groups who plan attacks her positions in the country.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Iraq affairs called the presence of NATO forces in Iraq contrary to the principle of sovereignty and a factor in increasing internal disputes in that country and said: Iraqi groups, the Iraqi parliament, and the government of Mr. Al-Kazemi should note that there is no difference between the NATO and the United States and, while considering strategic implications of that presence, they must confront NATO forces with a more prudent policy.
Strategic Council Online—Interview: An analyst of Iraq issues says the Hashd al-Shabi march marked the celebration of the admission of this force as an independent force in future, adding that the United States has reached the conclusion that Hashd al-Shabi will be an inseparable force of Iraq military in future and that’s why their approach has changed from dissolving Hashd al-Shabi to changing its nature.
Strategic Council Online- Early parliamentary election in Iraq which was supposed to be held on June 6, 2021, has been postponed. Whispers were circulating within the past few weeks that certain figures, movements and players are looking for the second postponement of election in Iraq which was originally supposed to be held on October 10, 2021.
Hamid Khoshayand, International Analyst
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An expert on Iraq affairs, commenting on the continued presence of US troops in Iraq despite strategic talks between the two countries on this issue and approval of the law on the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq in December 2019 said: There is no doubt that the stay of American forces in Iraq will intensify instability in that country.
Strategic Council Online – An analyst of Iraq affairs, referring to some issues of concern to Tehran and Baghdad raised during the visit of the Iraqi National Security Adviser to Iran, said that withdrawal of the Americans from that country can help improve security situation in Iraq and limit the ISIS. Unfortunately, he said what has overshadowed common security issues between Iran and Iraq is the continued presence of US forces in Iraq.
Strategic Council Online – The American adventurism in Iraq is not over and in the latest destructive measure, the US Treasury Department has boycotted Faleh al-Fayyad, the commander of the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi, on the pretext of human rights violations!
Hamid Khoshayand – International affairs analyst
Strategy Council Online – A Middle East expert said: “Some speculations suggest that with the rise of Joe Biden in the United States, we may see an acceleration of the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and some other countries in the region.”
Strategic Council Online – Despite warnings, Ronald Trump intends to reduce the number of American troops from Afghanistan and Iraq ahead of the deadline. He wants to be still influential in foreign and security policy, and intends to constrain his successor, Joe Biden. Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, without coordination and acceptance of the responsibility, could have dangerous consequences for the region as well as for the European allies of the US.
Mahmoud Fazeli – Expert on International Affairs
Strategic Council Online—Interview: With Joe Biden in the White House as the President of the United States, Iraq’s government inclination towards Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt will be reduced or disrupted, says an expert of West Asia affairs.
Strategic Council Online – Al-Kazemi’s stances reflect his outlooks and political vision about the United States. Some believe that the Americans hope that with Al-Kazemi as Iraq’s prime minister, relations with the US are set to expand and the scope of criticism of the United States inside Iraq will decrease; But we should not overlook the subsequent developments in Iraq; because next year elections will be held and Al-Kazemi himself, as a statesman, has plans for his political future, and is probably thinking of creating a political faction or party.
Siamak Kakai – Iraqi Affairs Expert
Strategic Council Online – “The purpose of the US presence in Iraq is to support Israel’s freedom of action in the region and to contain Iran,” said a West Asian affairs analyst. He added domination over Iraq and utilization of its capacities in line with hostility towards its neighbors will never serve the satisfaction of the neighbouring countries, religious authorities and Iraqi politicians.
