Publication

This report addresses Iran’s involvement in Iraq after the US-led invasion of 2003 and argues that Iran’s allegedly destabilizing role is far less extensive than expected. The paper analyzes Iran’s interests and presence and suggests that its priority is to prevent Iraq from re-emerging as a threat and aims at ensuring a Shiite-led, territorially intact and friendly Iraq. The paper pays further attention to the international perception of Iran’s policy and to the legacy of the Iran-Iraq war on Iran’s perception of the US-led invasion. The paper characterizes Iran’s approach toward Iraq as managed chaos.