After Iraq’s election, what are US priorities for next government?
Washington wants there to be no sanctioned groups in the next Iraqi government, a source told Al-Monitor, as the US and Iran compete for influence.
The Trump administration wants the next Iraqi government to take significant steps to rein in Iranian influence in the country, an endeavor that could prove challenging for Baghdad.
What happened: The US has said in conversations with Iraqi political parties that it does not want any designated groups in the next government, a person familiar with the matter told Al-Monitor.
A State Department spokesperson told Al-Monitor that the composition of the next government is a purely Iraqi decision, but that the administration wants Baghdad to curb the influence of Iran-backed actors.
“The composition of the Iraqi government is a matter for Iraqis, and only Iraqis, to decide,” said the spokesperson. “The United States has and will continue to speak plainly to the urgency of disarming and dismantling Iran-backed militias that undermine Iraq’s sovereignty, threaten Americans and Iraqis, and pilfer Iraqi resources for Iran. Iraqi leaders well know what is and is not compatible with a strong US-Iraq partnership.”
