Three days. That is how long it took Washington to go from warning that Iraqi government elements are providing cover for Iran-backed militias to congratulating Tehran’s hand-picked prime minister and inviting him to the White House. Ali al Zaidi, a known money launderer and dollar smuggler whose Al-Janoob Islamic Bank has been under coordinated sanctions by the Iraqi Central Bank and the U.S. Department of Treasury, is now sitting in Baghdad’s seat of power. However, he is not the architect of this takeover. He is its product.Behind this scheme is Faeq Zaidan. And through his hands, Iraq — the country sharing the longest border with Iran and the most vulnerable to its influence — is quietly being handed to Tehran on a platter, along with everything the United States sacrificed: thousands of lives, trillions of dollars, and decades of investment.
IRAQ IS BEING CAPTURED, AND WASHINGTON IS LETTING IT HAPPEN
Following the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections, where over 12 million Iraqis turned out to vote in hopes of a better life and a brighter future, months of fierce political struggle began. Incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, leader of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition and long known for his pro-U.S. stance, emerged as the clear winner. His bloc captured 46 seats — the largest share in the 329-member legislature — handing Baghdad a genuine shot at finally breaking free from Tehran’s grip. Iran, however, had other plans.
