Iraq, Iran Forge New Relationship

October 24,2013

The U.S. removal of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in 2003 created a new dynamic between Iraq and Iran. The two nations, which fought each other in the 1980s, have re-established close ties - with implications for the region and the United States.

After fighting each other for nearly a decade, in a conflict that cost a combined half-million military casualties, Iraq and Iran ended their war in a stalemate in 1988. The two states remained coldly hostile for another 15 years.

In 2003, U.S. forces invaded Iraq and drove Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party from power. The result of that was the rise to power of the Shi’a, Iraq’s majority, whom Hussein had largely excluded. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his Shi’a Dawaa party are now a major force in Iraq’s government.

Iraq has renewed relations with its Shi’a neighbor, Iran, a move some in Washington view with concern.

But Iraq’s Ambassador to the United States, Lukman Faily says America has to accept Baghdad charting its own course.

"It is important for the United States to understand that Iraq is an independent country, Iraq is a sovereign country, but Iraq is a proud ally of the United States," said Faily.

Faily also deflects criticism that renewed ties with Tehran have given Iran too much influence in Iraq.

Persian Gulf analyst Afshin Molavi of the New America Foundation said what Iran wants would look like Lebanon.