Iran iraq

Iraq forced to balance US, Iran relations after separate meetings with Trump, Iranian ambassador

Over the last decade, Iraq has been weakened from within because of Iranian-backed militias. Some of the militias have historical ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran.

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a parliamentary session to vote in a new government headed by Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister, at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, May 14, 2026.
Iranian Kurdish fighters from the Kurdistan Freedom Party, known as PAK take part in a training session at a base on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq February 12, 2026.

Iran targets Kurdistan in regional escalation, spiking gas prices and tensions - analysis

Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a parliamentary session to vote in a new government headed by Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister, at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, May 14, 2026.

Iraq's PM arrives in Washington as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias - analysis

Crowds of mourners surround the convoy carrying the coffins of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei during a funeral procession, in Mashhad, July 9, 2026

Khamenei, four family members buried in Mashhad as Iranian mourners chant for Trump's killing


US airstrikes in Iraq aimed to deter Iran, terror attacks - Biden

The US military carried out retaliatory air strikes in Iraq after a drone attack earlier by Iran-aligned terrorists that left one US service member in critical condition, and two others wounded.

 US Marine Corps (USMC) Marines assigned to C/Company, 1ST Battalion, 5th Marines, 1ST Marine Division engage the enemy during a firefight with Iraqi Forces near Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM

Iran cuts military service, warns Israel and US of escalation

Iran warned Israel and the US of a regional escalation, while cutting its military conscription.

 A missile is launched during an annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran

Iran-backed attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria increase

Reports on Sunday said that rockets targeted Ain al-Asad base, at least the sixth attack since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. 

A drone is launched during a large-scale drone combat exercise of Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Semnan, Iran January 4, 2021. Picture taken January 4, 2021

Drone attack on US forces intercepted in Iraq - report

Iraq has asserted that if the US is seen as supporting Israel then US forces could be targeted in Iraq.

(Illustrative) A drone is launched during a large-scale drone combat exercise of Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Semnan, Iran January 6, 2021

US issues new 120-day waiver letting Iraq pay Iran for electricity

The US has issued a new waiver to let Iraq pay Iran for electricity to keep Iran from forcing power cuts.

 Overhead power lines in Qom City, Iran

Iran ramping up anti-US rhetoric in Iraq - analysis

At a time of uncertainty in the region, and Iran’s threats, what is Tehran saying about Iraq?

 Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, review an honour guard, during his official arrival ceremony in Tehran, Iran April 29, 2023.

Even one American in Iraq is too many, Iran leader tells Iraqi president

The United States has some 2,500 troops in Iraq to help advise and assist local troops in combating ISIS.

 Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, review an honour guard, during his official arrival ceremony in Tehran, Iran April 29, 2023.

Iran-Iraq deal increases security coordination, limits Iraqi Kurdish autonomy

The deal was signed by Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani and Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani looks on as Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani sign the security agreement that includes coordination in protecting the common borders between the two countries, in Baghdad

20 years after the Iraq invasion: How has the Middle East changed? - analysis

The shift to remake the Middle East was very much part of the ethos of the Iraq war philosophy, seen as a chance at “pre-emption” to destroy a dangerous dictatorship and rebuild it into a democracy.

 US Marine Corps (USMC) Marines assigned to C/Company, 1ST Battalion, 5th Marines, 1ST Marine Division engage the enemy during a firefight with Iraqi Forces near Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM

Iraq currency smuggling: Reduced, but not eliminated

While the flow of smuggled dollars out of Iraq has decreased, those seeking to bring cash into Iran have found workarounds to the new procedures.

 An American $100 dollar bill.