Iran seeks to calm Iraqi infighting over spy dispute as region flares up

Iran’s Quds Force commander told Iraqi political leaders last week to ease criticism of the prime minister who has been embroiled in a row over spying allegations, sources said, seeking to steady a regional ally as conflict in the Middle East flares.

Esmail Qaani made the request during a visit to Baghdad, according to seven Iraqi sources, including people in political parties whose leaders the Iranian commander met. A regional diplomat confirmed the account. All the sources asked not to be named because the meetings were held in private.

The move to avert any weakening of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reflects concerns in Iran about instability on its doorstep in Iraq, where Tehran has long wielded influence via a range of Iran-backed armed groups and Shi’ite Muslim parties.

The Quds Force is the overseas branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The IRGC and Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

It’s not the first time Qaani has intervened in Iraq in a moment of crisis.

In February, he asked armed factions that Iran backs in Iraq to cease attacks on U.S. forces after a strike by one group on a U.S. base in Jordan, on Iraq’s western border, killed three U.S. troops, Reuters reported at the time.

There were no attacks for months afterwards.

Read more: Reuters