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BAGHDAD IS OFFICIALLY OUTSIDE THE “AXIS OF RESISTANCE”…AND THE US WANTS “ZERO IRAN” IN IRAQ.
(Can it get any clearer what the Trump policy is towards Iran?)
Abdul Mahdi arranges the deportation of the Houthis, and the factions remain silent.
Baghdad is working on “three lines” to avoid potential Israeli strikes, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
An Iraqi politician reveals the content of “non-negotiable” American messages sent to Baghdad, including cutting off funding to the Houthis.
Parliament is expected to begin preparations for the “dissolution of the factions” in a session on Monday, which will discuss the “restructuring of the Popular Mobilization Forces.” The “restructuring” includes a confirmation of a previous decision taken six years ago, stipulating the separation of “the Popular Mobilization Forces from any political entity,” making it a more clearly state-affiliated institution.
According to information obtained by Al-Mada, it is believed that the restructuring law “would not have been discussed were it not for the recent changes that took place in the region.”
The executive order issued in 2019, which would be the nucleus of the “restructuring of the Popular Mobilization Forces,” was rejected by several factions.
Over the past three weeks, Shiite political parties have insisted on prioritizing the “restructuring of the Popular Mobilization Forces” over the “Popular Mobilization Service and Retirement Law.” Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani decided to withdraw the “service and retirement” law from parliament, instead sending a restructuring law.
Parliament published the agenda for today’s session, Monday, after a work stoppage for more than a month. The agenda includes seven paragraphs, including the restructuring of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), or the so-called “Popular Mobilization Forces Authority Law.
” Suspicions circulate around the PMF regarding the presence of “alien” elements, according to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. There are also doubts about the PMF’s salaries and the “number of members,” according to MP Adnan al-Zurfi.
According to information, the government is trying to “control the PMF and organize it institutionally.”
This information confirms that “this appears to be an attempt to block any accusations against this group (the PMF) that it is outside the law.”
This movement is linked to the negotiations announced by the government more than a month ago with “three or four factions” to disarm them. The results of these negotiations have not yet been announced.
Neutrality…
In contrast, Baghdad is seeking, through the “second track,” to prevent factions from interfering in the war that appears to have returned in Gaza, Yemen, and southern Lebanon. So far, no known Iraqi faction has announced intervention in response to the new Israeli or American attacks in the region.
Three unknown Iraqi armed groups have announced targeting American interests after “strikes on the Houthis,” but no incident has been recorded so far.
The appearance in Yemen of Adel Abdul Mahdi, the former prime minister known for his closeness to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), is believed to be related to the “second track.”
Abdul Mahdi is believed to have arrived in Yemen on March 20, while the Houthis escalated attacks on Israel on the 18th and 20th of this month. Several reports have suggested “scenarios” for Abdul Mahdi’s presence with Houthi leaders:
one related to “coordination of the unity of the arenas,” a principle established by Iran in recent wars in the region; or the possibility that Abdul Mahdi was carrying a message from the United States to Yemen regarding the situation in the Red Sea.
Or that Baghdad is working to “expel the Houthis” from the country, which is the most widely circulated scenario domestically.
This development coincided with news of the “closure of a Houthi headquarters” in Baghdad, which had been revealed a year earlier. On March 20, Iraq’s Joint Operations Command denied reports that the Houthis were using a training camp in Iraq.
Reports indicated that the Houthis were using a training camp in the Khalis district of Diyala Governorate to receive training and support there.
Washington began a military escalation against the Houthis on March 15.
On June 13 of last year, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Ansar Allah group (also known as the Houthis), announced that they were working with the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” to launch attacks against Israel from the Golan Heights.
That same year, local media reported that the Houthi group had opened a “representation” in Baghdad, days after the group’s representative in Iraq, Abu Idris al-Sharafi, who has resided in Iraq since 2016, visited Hashd sites.
“We are not an axis of resistance.”
On the third track, Baghdad is trying to convince the United States that it is not part of the “axis of resistance,” according to Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
In a television interview, Hussein stressed that “Iraq does not accept ‘unity of arenas,’ and its constitution prohibits waging war against anyone by unilateral decision.”
Hussein attacked Iraqi armed factions, saying that “what they have done for months has greatly harmed Iraq and has not benefited the Palestinian cause.”
Unusually, neither the factions nor political forces close to those groups have commented on Hussein’s recent statements. According to the minister, “there is an opportunity to reach an understanding with the armed factions to spare them and Iraq the risks that could result from a military strike by external parties, such as America or Israel.
” Hussein warned that “Iran could be the target of an Israeli attack if it fails to reach an agreement with the new US administration.” He said, “This means that disaster will befall Iraq and the region.”
Tehran has so far rejected US messages to engage in “negotiations” on the nuclear issue. Politician and former MP Mithal Alusi says that “the political forces in Iraq are unaware of the coming danger, and may be playing the roles drawn for them by Iran.”
Washington’s Messages
In an interview with Al-Mada, Al-Alusi criticized Baghdad’s negotiating role with the United States, revealing the “existence of mediators” close to the ruling parties, separate from the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
” Al-Alusi asserted that the “mediators,” who, according to the former MP, are advisors, received decisive messages from Washington, stating:
1 – Zero Dollar: No dollars are allowed to flow to Iran, regardless of the pretext, cover, or means.
2 – Zero Oil: No Iraqi oil is allowed to flow to Iran, and no Iranian oil is allowed to be exported in Iraq’s name or mixed with Iraqi oil and marketed in the Gulf or anywhere else.
3 – Iraq will never fund, deal with, train, or shelter Hezbollah, Hamas, or the Houthis.
Al-Alusi asserted that the United States informed the Iraqi government that “$3.4 billion” is being transferred annually to Iran via funds allocated to the Popular Mobilization Forces, and this must be stopped.
(Mnt Goat-Who’s funding the terrorists? My jaw dropped when I heard these figures. No confusion now about the corruption from Iran on Iraq.)
The former MP points out that the United States considers the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to be affiliated with Iran, and that “Washington does not use the term ‘factions’.”
Al-Alusi questioned the Coordination Framework’s ability to maneuver and remain in the political equation until the next elections, stressing that “there is no room for maneuver with Trump as there was under the previous administration (Joe Biden).”
The former MP warned of a “great danger” threatening Iraq, as “Trump treats Iraq as a peripheral state implementing Iran’s will.”
(Mnt Goat-All I can say after reading this article is what I said way back in 2017. These Iranian militia left behind in Iraq after the ISIS was must leave Iraq along with their puppet Iranian politicians. This is what the US wants. Well…you can read for yourself the three main conditions Trump is imposing upon Iraq.)
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