Publication

With a conventional military and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threat from Saddam Hussein’s regime removed, Iran seeks to ensure that Iraq can never again become a threat to Iran, either with or without US forces present in Iraq. Some believe that Iran’s intentions go well beyond achieving Iraq’s “neutrality”— that Iran wants to try to harness Iraq to Iran’s broader regional policy goals and to help Iran defend against international criticism of Iran’s nuclear program. Others believe Iran sees Iraq as providing lucrative investment opportunities and a growing market for Iranian products and contracts.