The Iranian influence and expansion in Iraq is continuing inside Iraq espiciallyy in its internal affairs, and Iran is keen to anticipate events; in order the Iranian security and intelligence apparatus to take its location, and status in the event of change of the situation inside Iraq , the country is important for Iran, which constitutes a depth extended for its policy and its approach to the expansion towards the implementation of its plan to control on the Arab region, and considered it as the beginning and an important corridor that help and contribute to the promotion of its regional status , which seeks it to extend its influence and find her site between the countries of the Middle East, so as to be influential in political decision – making, and sustaining the momentum of regional and international relations in the region which is one of the most important areas in international conflict and the implementation of the policy of major powers and interests .
Hence the Iranian government ‘s decision comes to appoint Supreme adviser to the commander of the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General (Iraj Masjedi) ambassador to Tehran in Baghdad instead of (Hassan Danaii) , who ended his mission in Iraq.
And dimensions of the decision looks in its appearance as a diplomatic ones , but it hides a lot of evidences and data that could be read as follows:
- The development ofevents accurately refers to theend of the presence of the leaders and fighters Daesh on the ground in Iraq and that there is a political future Iraq and its people will live in , and social and demographic variables that may affect the the nature of regional policy in the region.
- The new ambassador Masjedi enjoys broad , large and impressive connections with all the armed militia leaders inside Iraq backed by the Iranian regime and its security and intelligence services, and he is one of the most prominent faces close to the leaders of the Iraqi militias, and his opinion is obeyed in the guidance of them , which produced a strong presence of militias in the country and was reflected negatively on the nature of political and sectarian conflict in Iraq and its cities, and among his people.
- Masjedi possesses an extensive experience in the field of security and intelligence work, and by virtue of his presence and his work as an adviser to Qassem Soleimani, he gained extensive field experience in dealing with the Iraqi issue and the merits of the political and security developments in Iraq; therefore qualifies him to deal with the next stage on which Iraq and its people will live it .
- privileges and qualifications that enjoyed by the (Masjedi) qualified him to run for this high office; which shows how keen the government in Tehran to the presence of an Iranian leaders at this level in dealing with the government in Baghdad to serve the interests of Iran, and its policy in the Arab region and the Middle East.
- Masjedi will work with a special guidance to serve the course of his intelligence and security work within the capital, Baghdad, and other cities of Iraq , and revive the role played by the armed militias backed by the Iranian regime, and we will see Iran’s significant role in the Iraqi arena, be a direct cause of their impact on Iraqi political decision-making , and determine courses of future action for the country.
- The commissioning Masjedi to manage the tasks of work ofTehran embassy in Baghdad confirms the well-established fact, namely, that the Iranians are always trying to consider their embassy in Iraq as one of the most important strategic positions in their attitudes, and political programs.
- Iran ‘snew ambassador already served and participated with the Iranian army in its war against Iraq in the eighties of the last century, and has a combat contributions in many battles and was wounded in Dezful battles in 1981 when he was a fighter in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
8. He participated and contributed to the administration of the last battle of Fallujah , and face the elements Daesh in it, and his statements that confirm the fact of his work and intelligence orientations to support and keep Iran ‘s national security: “The entry of the Revolutionary Guards ith its officers in the battle of Fallujah was to remain Iran as a center of Shi’ism in the world, this is to participate in defense of Iran and its borders. ”
9. Masjedi has a strategic view of how to deal with Iran ‘s enemies gained from his service in the security and intelligence work, and it was indicted in determining the path of confrontation , saying:
One of the biggest strategic mistakes is to fight the enemy within the geographical limits and must convey our battles with Arab states from Iran to within the borders of enemy territory and destroy its full strength in order the threats do not reach to the Iran’s borders and this is a clear and explicit indication of the nature of Iranian politics in the coming confrontation inside (Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon) which underlines the fact of the Iranian approach and role towards the Arab states and seeks to impose itself as a regional power of the dimensions and future approach that its mission to dominate and extend their influence to the Arabs.
- As for therole of (Masjedi) and his dealings with the Iraqi people, and his view of the way to lead the Iraqi society, and make it part of the Iranian hegemony, which it is shown clearly in his assertion: “Iran ‘s military intervention in Iraq aims to consecrate the dominance of Tehran not only in the southern regions and Euphrates , but to subjugate the Arab Sunnis and their areas in order they will not have an influential political role in Iraq, and its policy in the future. ”
These features of the appointment of the new Iranian ambassador in Baghdad and its objectives, and we’ll see in the coming days , which confirms the fact that we said about it, and how to deal with the Iraqi file, and the prospects for Iran -Iraq relations , and the approach of its management and style, so as to achieve the greatest possible extent of Iranian interests inside Iraq.
Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies