Iran's Shadow Play in Iraq: Disarmament or Deception? As Baghdad faces a September 30 deadline to restrict all weapons to state control, Tehran's influence over Iraqi affairs grows increasingly complex.
Top Iranian commander Esmail Qaani's unannounced visit to Baghdad has added a new layer of intrigue to this volatile equation.
Qaani met with Iraqi political and security leaders, as well as commanders of Shia paramilitaries, to discuss the government's disarmament plan.