Iraq is taking a multi-aligned approach with balancing regional ties, but will face challenges as pressure mounts from the US to limit relations with Iran ahead of nuclear talks on Saturday, experts and officials have told The National.
Over the past few months, Tehran’s influence in the Middle East has weakened as Iran’s allies in Gaza and Lebanon were heavily degraded following the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. The fall of Syria’s President, Bashar Al Assad, a long-time ally of Tehran, who was overthrown by rebels in December, has further diminished its influence while Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels are suffering under a US bombing campaign.
The only state left is Iraq, which has been feeling the heat following calls by US Republican Representative Joe Wilson and Democrat Jimmy Panetta introduced the “Free Iraq from Iran” bill, calling for the creation of an “inter-agency strategy” on the subject.
This pressure on Iraq comes as Washington is preparing to head to Oman for vital talks with Iran this weekend. They will be centred on Tehran's nuclear activities and the influence it wields across the Middle East through allied armed groups.
“We know that out of all external actors, Iran is the most influential and embedded into Iraqi politics and the state, and so, if Iraq attempts to diversify, it goes against some Iranian interests,” Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq initiative at London’s Chatham House think tank, told The National.
Balancing act
Iraq's government is headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani who is part of the Co-ordination Framework, a coalition of political parties that are allied with Iran. However, since assuming office in 2022, Mr Al Sudani's administration has taken a balancing act which is complicated by the fragility of the state.
“For many years, Iraq has upheld the slogan of 'balancing foreign relations', particularly between Washington and Tehran. However, this principle was not as clearly defined in the past as it has become under the current government,” Iraqi government spokesman Bassem Al Awadi told The National.
Mr Al Awadi said Baghdad has been “striving to ensure that US-Iran tensions do not negatively impact Iraq or turn the country into a battleground for external conflicts”.
“The Iraqi government in general does not want to fall under any one single sphere of influence,” Mr Mansour said, adding that Iran still has big allies in Iraq. For Iran, Baghdad is an important and strategic state.
“It offers Iran access to, international financial markets and is also a way to export all sorts of commodities, including oil and gas. If the Iraqi government could develop some sovereignty, it could start to push back,” Mr Mansour said.
Mr Awadi added that “both nations recognise Iraq’s deep commitment to maintaining its independence across various sectors”.
In response to the upcoming US-Iran talks, the Iraqi official said Baghdad “welcomes any negotiations or dialogue between Washington and Tehran and has expressed its willingness on multiple occasions to support efforts that would lead to mutual understandings and to help the region avoid further wars”.
Opportunities elsewhere
Baghdad is aiming to diversify its energy supply from Tehran especially as Washington has removed the sanctions waiver allowing Baghdad to import electricity from Iran while leaving the exemption for Iranian natural gas in place.
“Under maximum pressure and US efforts to constrain Iran, there is certainly an opportunity for the Iraqi government to diversify its economic relationships and strengthen economic and security co-operation with other countries and the US,” Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East programme at London's Chatham House, told The National.
“We should not see these moves as zero sum though as Tehran's network is deep and equally diversified across the country,” she said.
This week, Iraq signed two agreements with two US companies to produce 27,000 megawatts of electricity a month as the summer approaches to avoid electricity cuts. Iranian electricity and gas imports, which accounted for up to 40 per cent of Iraq's power supply in 2023, are essential to meet the country's energy needs.
“It's no news that Baghdad wants to diversify its energy supply from Tehran, even if it wants to maintain relations and not necessarily cut all its ties. The MOUs are definitely another move in that direction,” Aniseh Tabrizi, an Iran-Iraq expert at Control Risks, told The National.
“However, we also know that this is not something that can happen overnight. Despite all the pressure and efforts, Baghdad is likely to remain reliant on Iran for energy supply for a while,” she said.
Iran will make sure that ties with Iraq remain strong despite its weakened role in the role, said the expert.
Lukewarm ties
Relations between Baghdad and Washington remains lukewarm with no high-level meetings or visits taking place from President Donald Trump’s administration until this week when a top trade delegation visited Baghdad.
It is believed that Mr Trump views Iraq as part of the Iran file and the clear indication to that is the National Security Presidential Memorandum he signed to restore the maximum pressure on Iran which refers to its allied armed groups in the region.
So far, Mr Al Sudani’s government has not managed to make a breakthrough in the relation with Washington, especially when it comes to the dismantling of Iran-backed militias or merging them into the security forces.
“The new deals with a GE Vernova and UGT Renewables could take the relations forward somehow,” a senior Iraqi diplomat told The National.
“Trump was very keen during his first term in office to secure deals with GE and pushed for that, and yesterday’s signings could open a wide path in the relations between the two countries,” he said.
With regards to deals with US energy companies, he said they were aimed at developing green oil and gasfields. “Progress may be delayed in the political front, but we can move fast on the economy and energy one,” he said.
Baghdad has engaged in talks with Tehran-allied armed factions – one of the key demands for Washington – but no major progress has been made so far as “it is not an internal affair”, he said, referring to Iran role. Discussions are under way between political parties, the government and the armed factions, the diplomat added.
“The general mood inside Iraq is towards strengthening the state and putting an end to the non-state, taking into consideration the regional developments otherwise we will face consequences,” the diplomat said.
But the Iraqi parliament is considering a bill to cement the role of the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a coalition of militias dominated by groups with ties to Iran, as a fully-fledged arm of the state's security forces.
Iran has largely extended its influence through the PMF and armed groups under its umbrella but the countries have a long history and share a border that runs thousands of miles.
Since the 2003 US led invasion, Tehran's influence in Baghdad increased both politically and economically. Especially as Iran has supported Shiite armed groups that formed part of the insurgency against the American presence, and has built close ties with successive governments.
Through armed groups, it has launched attacks on US military bases in Iraq that killed several American soldiers and has strong allies in Parliament.
“Tehran has far more influence inside the Iraqi government than does the United States,” Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and Hamdi Malik, an associate fellow at the same think tank, wrote in Foreign Policy magazine.
Iran has control over Iraq “when it counts” such as “when a prime minister is picked, when an Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps force wants to transit Iraq, or when Iran wants to fire a drone at US military advisers from Iraqi soil”, they wrote.
However, with its recent loses in Damascus, Beirut and Sanaa, Tehran is “terrified that another domino might fall. Iraq is the most likely place for that to happen,” said the report.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
More on animal trafficking
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
The years Ramadan fell in May
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The%20specs
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
more from Janine di Giovanni
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPurpl%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKarl%20Naim%2C%20Wissam%20Ghorra%2C%20Jean-Marie%20Khoueir%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHub71%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20and%20Beirut%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%242%20million%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai
Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:
• Dubai Marina
The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104
• Downtown
Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure. “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154
• City Walk
The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena. “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210
• Jumeirah Lake Towers
Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941
• Palm Jumeirah
Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
New schools in Dubai
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Profile box
Founders: Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer and Freddy Lim
Started: established in 2016 and launched in July 2017
Based: Singapore, with offices in the UAE, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
Sector: FinTech, wealth management
Initial investment: $500,000 in seed round 1 in 2016; $2.2m in seed round 2 in 2017; $5m in series A round in 2018; $12m in series B round in 2019; $16m in series C round in 2020 and $25m in series D round in 2021
Current staff: more than 160 employees
Stage: series D
Investors: EightRoads Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Sequoia Capital India
More coverage from the Future Forum
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MATCH INFO:
Second Test
Pakistan v Australia, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am daily at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Entrance is free
Match info
Manchester United 4
(Pogba 5', 33', Rashford 45', Lukaku 72')
Bournemouth 1
(Ake 45 2')
Red card: Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Brief scores:
Juventus 3
Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'
Frosinone 0
MATCH INFO
Day 1 at Mount Maunganui
England 241-4
Denly 74, Stokes 67 not out, De Grandhomme 2-28
New Zealand
Yet to bat
