Iran’s Quds Force commander Qani visits Iraq: senior official

The political deadlock surrounding the nomination of Iraq’s next prime minister will also be on the agenda, the official said, referring to Carney’s first overseas trip since the US-Iran ceasefire on April 8.

Carney, who rarely announces visits to Iraq, leads the Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

Iraq has long walked a tightrope between the competing influence of its neighbor Iran and its U.S. ally, with Iraqi leaders trying to maintain a delicate balance between the two foes.

Iraq has been embroiled in Middle East wars over attacks against Iran-backed groups, which in turn have claimed attacks on U.S. interests, primarily in Iraq but also across the wider region.

Iraqi officials said Qani was “holding meetings with Iraqi political leaders and commanders of some armed factions,” adding that the purpose of the visit was to “address the regional de-escalation and its impact on Iraq.”

Carney “seeks to coordinate positions among Tehran’s allies in Iraq and ensure that the security situation in Iraq and the region does not deteriorate during these sensitive times,” the official said.

A source from a powerful Tehran-backed faction and two other sources close to the Coordination Framework, the ruling coalition of Shia groups with varying ties to Iran, confirmed the visit.

All sources requested anonymity.

The senior Iraqi official said the visit was also part of Iran’s “efforts to support a path of understanding between the Iraqi parties and bridge differences, especially as disagreements persist over government issues”.

Iraqi leaders have been locked in a political deadlock since January after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut support for the country after coordinating a framework to support Nouri al-Maliki as the country’s next prime minister.

Trump said he would end all support for Iraq if Maliki, a two-term former prime minister with close ties to Iran, returns to power.

Some political sources told AFP the coordination framework could soon choose a new candidate.

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