Saudi-Iranian Reconciliation and its Impact on Iraq

Ever since Saddam Hussein’s fall in 2003, Iraq has been used as an arena of competition between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Proxy war, Iraq’s dependence on Iran, sectarianism, as well as Iraq’s exclusion from Arab countries remain issues stemming from the conflict between Riyadh and Tehran. Reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia provides an opportunity for Baghdad to adopt a relatively neutral foreign policy, leading to the enhancement of diplomatic and economic relations, for Iraq’s benefits.

Iran's goals and strategy for expelling Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan region of Iraq

One week before the Iranian deadline of September 19, the RKI finds itself in a critical situation in the face of the Iranian threats to disarm and expel Kurdish groups, and fears of losing its autonomy. The decisions to be taken to maintain this balance may be the solution, analyzes Dr Mohammad Salami for CFRI.