The Iraqi government has rejected Iranian requests to exempt individuals facing judicial arrest warrants as part of corruption investigations and has urged Tehran to use official diplomatic channels to arrange visits by Iranian officials who have “customarily held secret meetings” in Baghdad, according to two informed sources on Sunday.
The developments followed what was described as a “secret” visit by Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force, shortly after an official visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on June 28.
One source said Qaani arrived in Baghdad a few days after Araghchi’s visit without any public announcement. It is believed to have been his first trip to Iraq since al-Zaidi took office on May 14.
As Iranian influence in Baghdad has expanded over the years, reports of undeclared visits by senior officials from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have become frequent, although many were never officially confirmed and some could not be independently verified.
During the recent US-Iran war, Qaani acknowledged that he had traveled to Baghdad in late April to express his “thanks and appreciation to the Iraqi people and officials.”
Iranian Requests
According to the two sources, the Iranian officials sought changes to Iraq’s plan to bring all weapons under state control after the government set Sept. 30 as the deadline for eliminating arms outside state authority. Tehran also requested that Baghdad narrow the list of arrest warrants that could target political and government figures with close ties to the IRGC.
One source said Iraqi authorities rejected any changes to their plans on weapons control and anti-corruption measures and informed Tehran of their decision. Baghdad also insisted that Iran adhere to formal diplomatic procedures and rejected “bypassing official channels through secret meetings,” in an apparent reference to Qaani.
Unannounced visits by Iranian officials, particularly commanders of the Quds Force, have long been politically sensitive in Iraq and across the region. The Iraqi government did not respond to requests for comment.
For years, Baghdad has struggled to establish the state’s monopoly over arms. Iran-backed armed factions argue that they have earned a role in shaping political decisions because of their campaign against ISIS.
The United States has pressed Iraq to diminish its ties with Iran, and some observers believe al-Zaidi’s government is gradually emerging as a promising opportunity to reshape the balance of power as part of a broader regional realignment.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Zaidi pledged to place all weapons under state control, declaring that “there will be no weapons except those of the state.”
Doubts and International Commitments
A former lawmaker from a Shiite alliance told Asharq Al-Awsat that the recent developments do not necessarily signal a fundamental shift in Baghdad’s relationship with Tehran.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he warned that Iran and its Iraqi allies could respond to growing US pressure by adopting a lower profile while preserving their influence through indirect channels.
He said it remains too early to conclude that Iranian influence is receding, noting that the extent to which Tehran-aligned factions comply with government policies will become clearer in the coming months.
A senior political adviser in Baghdad told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government informed Tehran it could not approve of requests that would violate Iraq’s international commitments on combating money laundering and controlling weapons that threaten regional security.
Baghdad has recently entered into commitments with the US and European countries to implement economic and security reforms, including tighter measures against money laundering and illegal weapons.
The adviser added that Iraq remains committed to maintaining its strategic partnership with neighboring Iran on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests.
