Even as Iraq struggles with the pros and cons of having US and other foreign troops within its borders, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived March 11 in Baghdad for a three-day stay.

Rouhani, accompanied by a high-powered delegation from Tehran, began his trip by talking up the great relationship his country enjoys with Iraq and criticizing the United States and its sanctions against his country. This comes as some US officials attributed the United States’ presence in Iraq to being able to keep an eye on Iran and its efforts to expand its influence in the region. 

At the annual Sulaimani Forum held March 6-7 in Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraqi President Barham Salih and Hikma movement leader Ammar al-Hakim both stressed that Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi is responsible for determining conditions for the presence of coalition troops on Iraqi soil. Abdul Mahdi, however, has been saying little publicly about the subject. Even during a Feb. 27 consultative meeting of the president, prime minister, parliament speaker and political leaders at Salam Palace, the issue of troop withdrawal was the fifth item on the agenda and allotted little time for discussion.

A draft bill worked on jointly by the Sairoon and Fatah political blocs is expected to be introduced in parliament this week. The draft's main points address preventing any foreign power from setting up military bases in Iraq, while giving the Iraqi government a mandate to use foreign advisers or experts for training and capacity-building purposes. In other words, it would allow the government to ask for help — not just from American troops, but rather any combat troops — for instance, Turkish or Iranian ones.