Iraqi President Visits Tehran Amid American Efforts To Isolate Islamic Republic

Iraqi President Barham Salih is visiting Iran, where he pledged to improve bilateral relations less than two weeks after the United States re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic’s crucial energy, shipping and banking sectors. The move is raising eyebrows in Washington, which fears growing Iranian influence over Baghdad could offset a fifteen-year military and diplomatic effort to rebuild Iraq in its image. Salif met with President Hassan Rouhani, with the two discussing ways to increase trade as well as the potential establishment of a free trade zones along the shared border. The Trump administration has granted Iraq a 45-day waiver to wean itself off of Iranian energy products, although the White House is walking a tightrope. The U.S. still has thousands of troops in Iraq that recently played an instrumental role in liberating major cities from the Islamic State terror group. The situation on the ground remains complicated due to the existence of Shiite fighting groups loyal to Tehran that likewise took part in the battle. Some of these forces have since been incorporated into the Iraqi national army, thus providing Iran with leverage over security issues. It would be viewed as a major geopolitical defeat for the U.S. if Baghdad were to be pulled deeper into the Islamic Republic’s orbit.