Western report alleges Iran integrates Iraq's telecom infrastructure into its own network

TEHRAN, Iran — A Western report published in English alleges that Iran is using Iraq's telecommunications infrastructure to meet its need for external communications channels, particularly as restrictions tighten on domestic Iranian networks. The report claims that Iran-backed groups have turned to external networks to maintain command-and-control capabilities, citing Iraq's extensive and interconnected communications landscape as a suitable field for that purpose. It alleges Iran has expanded its presence in Iraq's telecom sector through allies and political influence. According to the report, some appointments at Iraq's Ministry of Communications, from the era of Hasan Rashid to that of Mustafa Sand, were based on political loyalty to Tehran rather than professional qualifications. It also warned that control over national data routing and digital surveillance could allow external actors to monitor and redirect Iraq's data traffic. The document warned that Iraq's communications infrastructure could be exploited for intelligence gathering, information operations and cyber activities. No Iraqi or Iranian official was quoted in the available reporting, and no further details on the report's authorship or publication were immediately disclosed.