Iraq does not speak with one voice when it comes to foreign policy; a byproduct of the dysfunction of its political system. For the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iran and its network of allied militias are an immediate security threat. Erbil has carefully cultivated its ties<\/a> to the UAE and the Gulf in search of political and security alignment in the region. Just days before the latest attack, President Nechirvan Barzani met President Sheikh Mohamed in Abu Dhabi to discuss regional developments.<\/p>\n Over the past years, Iraq had appeared to be reintegrating into the Arab fold after years of isolation after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and then due to the conflict that ensued post-US invasion. Baghdad had begun rebuilding its bridges<\/a> with Gulf states, particularly with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. But the Iran war has once again turned the tide and Baghdad has tried to avoid appearing to take a side, but as a consequence failed to condemn Iranian attacks on Arab countries.<\/p>\n But this is not just about condemnation, or the lack thereof, and diplomacy. This silence points to the enduring reality that Iraq\u2019s foreign policy remains deeply constrained<\/a> by its close ties to Iran, regardless of who\u2019s in charge. The Iran war has caught Iraq amid a gruelling process of still forming a new government after holding elections in November last year.<\/p>\n Why is the US offering a $20m bounty on Iraqi militia leaders?<\/p>\n Last week, businessman Ali Al Zaidi was nominated as prime minister<\/a> in what seemed to be the Co-Ordination Framework\u2019s last-minute option for a candidate, providing a way out of political paralysis and US pressure. Washington repeatedly warned Iraq against picking former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki for the role, again due to concerns over his ties with Iran.<\/p>\n US President Donald Trump welcomed Mr Al Zaidi\u2019s nomination<\/a> and has extended an invitation for him to visit Washington once he has formed a government. While the sidelining of Mr Al Maliki might seem like a concession to Washington, this wouldn\u2019t be the first time Iraq has chosen a consensus candidate as a facade while the shadow government maintains its grip.<\/p>\n Despite not yet fully assuming his role, Mr Al Zaidi has taken several calls from world leaders since his designation. Among those was a call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during which Mr Al Zaidi said Iraq was ready to mediate between Tehran and Washington.<\/p>\n In the post-2003 order, Iraq has walked a diplomatic tightrope, balancing its ties with both Tehran and Washington but has often found itself falling back on the Iranian side.<\/p>\n But the question is, can a state that refuses to rein in its Iran-aligned militia groups and fails to condemn attacks on a fellow Arab country truly act as a neutral mediator?<\/p>\n It remains to be seen whether Al Zaidi will continue to be someone the US backs, or if he\u2019ll end up being another side of the same coin<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/v2\/media\/UEoJnA3t\/poster.jpg\")
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