Iraqi streets crush Soleimani’s agreement

Ali Ragab

It looks like that an agreement reached during a secret meeting held by head of the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s foreign wing General Qassim Soleimani to prevent the ouster of Iraqi Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi has become mere ink on paper.

Mahdi’s rule is threatened by the widespread anti-government protests that showed no signs of slowing, especially after the agreement.

Abdul Mahdi expressed willingness to step down as part of possible reforms designed to appease anti-corruption activists, headed by populist cleric Moqtada Sadr.

Sadr had been pushing for various militia groups and alliances to join forces and push Abdul Mahdi from office, according to press reports.

According reports, Soleimani asked Hadi al-Amiri — Sadr’s rival and leader of an alliance of Iran-backed militias — to back Abdul Mahdi despite his decreasing popularity.

There was no comment from Amiri or Sadr, but an Iranian security official told Reuters that Soleimani traveled to Baghdad on Wednesday to “give advice” to the Iraqi leader.

“(Iraq’s) security is important for us and we have helped them in the past. The head of our Quds Force travels to Iraq and other regional countries regularly, particularly when our allies ask for our help,” the Iranian official said, asking not to be named.

Soleimani, whose Quds force coordinates Tehran-backed militias in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, is a frequent visitor to Iraq. However, his direct intervention is the latest sign of Iran’s increasing influence in Iraq and across the region.

Iraqi security officials told Reuters earlier this month that Iran-backed militias deployed snipers on Baghdad rooftops to try to help put down the protests.

If Iraq falls further into crisis, Iran risks losing the influence it has steadily been amassing in the country since the U.S.-led invasion and which it sees as a counter to American influence in the region.

More violent demonstrations have erupted in southern Iraq, where protesters have torched the headquarters of parties and militias linked to Iran and thrown firebombs at an Iranian Consulate.

The uprising in Iraq, and similar anti-government protests underway in Lebanon, pose a threat to key Iranian allies at a time when Tehran is under mounting pressure from U.S. sanctions, AP reported.

On Sunday night in Karbala, protesters climbed the walls of the Iranian Consulate by the light of burning tires as the crowd chanted “The people want the fall of the regime.” Security forces dispersed the protest, killing at least three people and wounding nearly 20.

For his part, Iraqi politician Emad ed-Din Al-Jabouri said in a Twitter post that the Iraqi street buried Soleimani’s agreement and made the demands clear, to overthrow a regime that is being controlled by Tehran.

He added that Iraqis have made a decision to overthrow the regime and return Iraq to its previous glory.

While Iranian-affairs expert Mahmoud Jaber told The Reference in an interview that Iran still describes protesters as conspirators. He further added that this agreement is an attempt to ease tensions and calm protests.