In a recent geopolitical maneuver, the clerical regime’s president Masoud Pezeshkian embarked on his first official foreign trip to Iraq, raising significant questions about the deeper motives behind this visit. The trip comes at a time of heightened tension, both within Iran’s domestic political landscape and in the broader regional context. With the ongoing repression of Kurdish political groups in Iraq and the increasing financial desperation of the Iranian regime due to international sanctions, the visit appears to be far more than a routine diplomatic exchange.
As Pezeshkian landed in Baghdad, he was quick to declare that the purpose of his visit was to follow the strategic guidance of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reinforcing the long-standing relationship between Iran and Iraq. His itinerary included visits to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdish region of Iraq, as well as the Shia-majority cities like Basra. The symbolism here is crucial. By choosing Iraq as his first destination, Pezeshkian is sending a clear message to Tehran’s internal and external actors. The trip serves to reaffirm Tehran’s influence over Iraq, a country that has increasingly become a proxy battleground for Tehran’s interests.
Pezeshkian’s visit was also laden with symbolic gestures, including paying respects at the site where slain IRGC Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed.
#Iran News:
Ahead of Inauguration, Regime President Pezeshkian Reaffirms Support for Foreign Mercenarieshttps://t.co/RXXWzokYoP— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 30, 2024
One of the less publicized aspects of Pezeshkian’s visit is the focus on security cooperation, particularly concerning Kurdish political movements in Iraq. For decades, Iranian Kurdish parties have been living in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, much to the displeasure of Tehran. Under a security agreement signed in 2022, Baghdad was given until September 2023 to disarm these Kurdish groups.
Recent reports indicate that Kurdish political bases along the Iran-Iraq border have already been vacated, and military camps dismantled. This disarmament is a key demand from the clerical regime, as it seeks to discourage a rebellious and relentless population in the Iranian Kurdish region.
Furthermore, this visit coincides with Tehran’s efforts to extradite around 120 Kurdish political leaders to Iran. Iranian officials have consistently framed these leaders as terrorists, despite widespread international criticism of Tehran’s heavy-handed tactics.
#Iran News:
Clerical Regime Vows to Continue #Terror Sponsorship Through Masoud Pezeshkianhttps://t.co/eZFcaECe7b— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 15, 2024
A Financial Lifeline
Beyond security concerns, one of the primary reasons for Pezeshkian’s trip is Iran’s dire financial situation. Iraq is under pressure from the United States to curb dollar smuggling to Iran and protect its financial system from abuse. The US has imposed restrictions on Iraqi banks, with eight local commercial banks recently banned from engaging in US dollar transactions. This is part of a broader crackdown on currency smuggling to Iran via the Iraqi banking system.
On the other hand, the Iranian regime is struggling to access funds owed by Iraq for gas and electricity imports due to US sanctions. While there have been conflicting reports about the exact amount owed and whether it has been fully settled, the situation remains complex. Tehran has been seeking ways to access these funds, including through various payment mechanisms and swap deals. These financial constraints and the need to navigate US sanctions while maintaining economic ties have created ongoing tensions between the two countries and complicated their economic relationship.
Stricter enforcement by Washington could potentially trigger an economic crisis in Iraq, a country already grappling with political instability. Pezeshkian’s visit, thus, is as much about securing the release of these funds as it is about ensuring that Tehran’s financial lifeline through Iraq remains open.
#Iran News:
Regime’s President-elect Pezeshkian Reaffirms Support for #Hezbollah and Regional Terrorismhttps://t.co/fCdhmbAyx7— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) July 9, 2024
Despite this, Pezeshkian’s visit is unlikely to produce any significant breakthroughs in regional relations. Most of Iran’s neighbors remain wary of the regime’s ambitions and its role in supporting proxy groups across the Middle East. For Pezeshkian, this trip is less about winning over new allies and more about solidifying existing ones.
Pezeshkian’s trip to Iraq is reflective of a regime under pressure, both economically and politically. While the visit may bolster Tehran’s security cooperation with Iraq and provide some temporary financial relief, it also reveals the extent of Tehran’s desperation. The regime’s attempts to tighten its grip on the Kurdish opposition and access its frozen assets point to deeper systemic issues within Iran. With its economy in freefall and its regional influence facing unprecedented challenges, Pezeshkian’s visit is a stark reminder that Iran is running out of options. This trip, while wrapped in the language of diplomacy and cooperation, is ultimately about survival.
