Middle East Focus Iraq in Between Iran and the United States
Apr 9, 2026
Robert S. Ford, a retired U.S. career diplomat and former ambassador with deep Iraq experience, walks through Iraq’s precarious position between Iran and the United States. He outlines how Iraqi leaders and militias balance pressure. He discusses stalled government formation, militia‑U.S. clashes, economic risks from disrupted oil, Kurdish pipeline politics, and implications for U.S. policy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Iraq's Fragile Neutrality Between Washington And Tehran
- Iraq is trying to maintain neutrality amid U.S.-Iran kinetic fighting while parts of its ruling Shia Islamist coalition openly back Iran.
- Pro-Iran militias are armed, funded by the Iraqi state, and act independently, undermining Baghdad's effort to avoid becoming a battlefield.
Militias Are Stalling Iraq's Government Formation
- The militias' attacks complicate government formation by making consensus on a prime minister harder to reach.
- Militia actions substitute for state decision-making on war and peace, splitting the Shia Islamist coalition and delaying parliamentary votes.
From Co-Belligerents Against ISIS To Open Confrontation
- Relations that once saw U.S. forces and pro-Iran militias cooperate against ISIS have reversed into direct confrontation.
- U.S. strikes now target militia commanders and bases, risking a rapid escalation of reciprocal attacks across Iraqi territory.