Tehran’s control over Baghdad may create conditions for more extreme protests, expert tells ‘Post’
Iraq’s failure to pay July salaries could trigger wider, potentially violent protests as oil export disruptions and US financial controls strain Baghdad, an expert said
Assessment
The intersection of Iraqi fiscal collapse and Iranian influence creates a volatile dynamic. If salary nonpayment triggers unrest, Tehran may exploit the chaos to tighten its grip or face backlash from protesters targeting its proxies. The key variable is whether US financial pressure pushes Baghdad toward Iran or forces internal reforms. Watch for protest scale and whether Iraqi security forces side with demonstrators or Iranian-aligned militias.