Iran bows to al-Sadr’s pressure, orders coordination framework to avoid confrontation

After weeks of conflicts between the Shiite political forces in Iraq, namely the Sadrist Movement and the Coordination Framework, over how to name and form the next Iraqi government, which prompted the Sadrist movement demonstrated and sit-in inside the parliament building demanding its “dissolution”, it seems that this demand will be implemented soon. Despite the control of the Coordination Framework – which is loyal to Iran – over the Iraqi parliament, it is on its way to giving in to the demands of dissolving the parliament, after consultations with Iranian officials, according to Iraqi sources.

Avoiding confrontation

Informed sources revealed that consultations between Iranian officials and the coordination framework have continued for the past 24 hours, and resulted in the dissolution of the parliament and the holding of new elections, as the Sadrist movement seeks.

The sources said that Iran fears a confrontation between the Shiite forces in Iraq, which could divide the Shiite bloc into two fronts. At this time, the supporting front will be to the movement of leader Muqtada Al-Sadr, who uses an Iraqi national discourse that does not have an ideology affiliated with Tehran, as is the case with the forces forming the coordination framework. The sources also indicated that Iran fears losing its position in Iraq, when the people deviate from the coordination framework, driven by a grudge from Al-Sadr’s position, so the tendency to announce the approval of dissolving the parliament will give the people an illusionary feeling of the possibility of restoring confidence in Iran’s parties in Iraq.

Specific time

For his part, Al-Sadr called in a statement issued by the judiciary for the dissolution of parliament within a period not to exceed the end of next week, and thousands of Al-Sadr’s supporters stormed the highly fortified “Green Zone” in Baghdad and took control of the parliament building, while his Shiite opponents, most of whom are supported by Iran, are seeking to form a government. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said Wednesday: “Today, political blocs are required to assume their responsibilities by solving the issue of political blockades”, he stressed, “There is no option but dialog”, Mustafa al-Kadhimi added: “I hope that everyone will work hard to resolve the political impasse and resort to dialog to resolve the differences. We have no choice but dialog”.