The head of Iraq’s pro-Iran Fatah Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, met with the head of the Sairoon Alliance, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, on Wednesday to discuss a possible alliance as the Iraqi parliament seeks to form a new government. Although no final agreement has been reached, the meeting comes as current Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi faces increasing scrutiny for his handling of mass rallies in the southern city of Basra where protesters have demonstrated against the lack of basic services like potable water and electricity.
The United States is concerned that an Amiri-Sadr alliance could expand Iranian influence in Iraq more than a coalition between Sadr’s Sairoon Alliance and Abadi. As such, Republican senators are moving to introduce legislation that would impose sanctions on Iranian proxies in Iraq, most of which fall under Amiri’s Fatah Alliance. The bill would also oblige the secretary of state to publish and maintain a list of armed groups receiving assistance from Iran. Read More
The leader of Iraq's biggest parliamentary faction, Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, threatened Thursday to withdraw from negotiations to form a new government even though his Sairoon Alliance finished first in the May elections. Instead, Sadr said Sairoon could play an opposition role in the next government if political parties fail to select an independent prime minister without foreign intervention. Sadr met with the head of the pro-Iran Fatah Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, earlier this week, after previously attempting to form an alliance with embattled Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his Al-Nasr Alliance. Read More