US tells Baghdad to end Iran alignment, push toward Arab partners

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The United States has signaled it will not accept closer Iraqi ties with Iran and is pressing Baghdad to strengthen relations with Washington and Arab states in the region, according to a report by the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think tank. The report, published as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zidani prepares to visit Washington, outlines US expectations on three main fronts. They include the disarmament of the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) and Iran-aligned militias, guarantees for the security of American companies operating in Iraq, and a broader Iraqi reorientation away from Iranian and Chinese influence toward closer integration with Gulf countries. The Middle East Institute said Washington wants the Iraqi government to show the political will needed to confront the militias, citing a perceived lack of resolve in Baghdad. It also noted that US policymakers would like to apply to Iraq a process similar to what they pursued in Syria to roll back Iranian influence. The report cautioned that Iran could seek to preserve its leverage inside Iraq regardless of the outcome of ongoing conflicts and negotiations with the United States and Israel. No further details on the timing of Zidani's Washington visit were immediately available.