Iraq Government Formation: US-Iran Competition Over Militia Influence
December 24, 2025
As Prime Minister Al-Sudani navigates a fractured parliament following the November 2025 elections, Iraq has become the ultimate battleground for US and Iranian influence. With the Trump administration demanding the exclusion of sanctioned militias and Tehran leveraging its strategic assets, the race for the premiership—featuring figures like Nouri al-Maliki and Qasim al-Araji—will determine whether Iraq can maintain its sovereignty or fall deeper into a high-stakes geopolitical confrontation.