Fears Spur Iraqi Contacts

Iraqi government and political circles fear that Iran-aligned factions could slip out of control if the confrontation between the United States and Iran resumes. The government is seeking to persuade them to remain neutral and has deployed security forces in areas away from cities to prevent possible attacks. Efforts to bring weapons under state control remain stalled, with the target date postponed to June 30, 2027. Sources said Washington had warned of sanctions—including the possibility of designating Iraq a “state sponsor of terrorism”—if it did not present a concrete plan. Some factions say they will remain neutral as long as Iraq is not used to launch attacks, but their final position is unclear. There are concerns that an escalation in the confrontation, or strikes against the factions themselves, could draw them into it. The Security Media Cell denied reports of an airstrike on a Popular Mobilization Forces site in Diyala.

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