After the United States struck a number of Iraqi bases of an Iran-backed Iraqi group that is part of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) following an attack on an American base, Iranian officials and media again became consumed with Iran-US tensions. 

After the United States attacked bases belonging to Kataib Hezbollah, killing 25 and injuring dozens, PMU backers attacked the US Embassy in Baghdad. Many analysts believe the recent events in Iraq are part of an ongoing proxy war between Iran and the United States.

Vice President Eshag Jahanghiri said Jan. 2 of US accusations that an Iran-backed group was behind the initial attack on the US base, “That American officials see Iran as responsible for the attack in Iraq and use that as an excuse to bomb innocent people is a big lie. There is not a more peace-seeking nation than Iran.” He added, “Iran will stand with an iron fist against any invaders.”

Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Jan. 2, “The Hashd Shaabi [PMU] played the primary role in defeating the [Islamic State] but America bombed them on their own soil and the root of these protests is this behavior by the US.”