Quds Force Commander’s Efforts to Control Conflicts Among Iraqi Shia Groups

Reuters reported, citing informed sources, that the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps met with leaders of Iraqi Shia groups last week and urged them to stop criticizing the country's Prime Minister, who has been accused of espionage against other politicians. On Tuesday, October 3, the news agency reported based on the statements of seven Iraqi sources, including members of parties that Ismail Qaani met with, that the Quds Force commander made this request during his meeting with the leaders of these groups in Baghdad. A diplomat in the region also confirmed this narrative regarding the topics discussed between Ismail Qaani and Iraqi Shia politicians. All these sources spoke to Reuters on the condition that their names would not be mentioned. The effort to prevent the weakening of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s position as Prime Minister of Iraq reflects the Islamic Republic's concerns about instability in the neighboring country, where Tehran has long exerted significant influence through Shia political and militia groups. After about a year since the onset of the war in Gaza, which has severely weakened Hamas and put intense military pressure on Hezbollah, Tehran's important allies in the region, the Islamic Republic is trying to prevent further weakening of its allies. According to Reuters, following Qaani's trip to Baghdad, attacks by militias on American forces ceased. The Quds Force is the extraterritorial arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This armed force and the Iranian Foreign Ministry did not respond to Reuters' request for comment on this matter. Reports from Reuters indicate that Ismail Qaani told leaders of the 'Coordination Framework,' an alliance of Shia political groups that elected Mr. al-Sudani to the premiership, not to undermine the Prime Minister's position. The current crisis is due to accusations of espionage from Mr. al-Sudani's office against senior Iraqi officials and politicians. The Quds Force commander emphasized in this meeting that maintaining stability in Iraq is vital given the increasing tensions and conflicts in the region. The espionage allegations, which advisors to the Prime Minister of Iraq have denied and for which no evidence has been presented so far, were raised last month by several lawmakers and major Iraqi media outlets, leading to significant disputes and conflicts. Independent experts and government-supporting analysts in Iraq say that Mr. al-Sudani's opponents have raised the espionage issue to weaken him in the upcoming parliamentary elections. However, the Prime Minister's opposition parties claim the allegations are serious. Reuters adds that the Iraqi judiciary has begun investigations into these allegations, led by the head of the country's judicial council. Some Iraqi officials say the results of these investigations will determine Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's political fate and his continuation in the premiership. These conflicts occur at a very sensitive time for Mr. al-Sudani. He is trying to stabilize Iraq's economy after two decades of war and crisis until the next parliamentary elections while balancing the influence of Shia armed groups supported by Iran and negotiations regarding the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. This is not the first time Ismail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force, has intervened in critical and sensitive matters in Iraq. Last February, following an attack by an Iraqi militia group on a base housing American troops in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers, he urged Iran-backed groups to cease attacks on American bases. No attacks on American forces occurred in the months following that incident.