Several months ago, Saudi Arabia started a long process of de-Iranification of Iraq in order to bring it back to its natural place among Arab countries. Recently in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Iraqi Sadrist movement.
Bringing back Iraq will not be easy, especially after many years of strategic vacuum and Arab neglect as Iran interfered in the various sectors in the country. Everyone thought resources and strategic capabilities of the Iraqis were in the hands of the mullahs.
Major world powers made things worse when they allowed Iranian influence to expand in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003. Iran wreaked havoc, wanting to take Iraq to the point of no return where nothing can be fixed. The mullahs have fuelled sectarian strife. They changed the demographic distribution to keep their influence. Their hegemony, they wanted their Iraqi Shiite political supporters to guarantee.
Arabs should back this non-interventionist, sovereignty- and unity-preserving and anti-sectarian endeavour made by Saudi Arabia.
It will not succeed, however, by just one visit of Muqtada al-Sadr, who opposes Iranian influence in Iraq as well as any Arab interference in the affairs of his country. Iraq was and—hopefully again—will be a pillar of security and stability within the Arab security system.
Saudi Arabia’s new Arab-centred, anti-sectarian strategy for Iraq will preserve territorial integrity against any partition plans.
Iraqis today cannot get rid of the Iranian influence overnight; many IRGC and Iranian politicians established a vast network of economic and political interests with Iraqi political leaders. After they have put their hands on resources and power positions in Iraq, they will not let go easily, until they reach the Mediterranean.
Post-Daesh Iraq needs all-Iraqi patriotic efforts far from ethnicism. Arab countries must provide Iraqis with the support they need in this difficult journey to recover their country from the mullahs and their collaborationists.
Iraq should regain its historical strategic role as an important regional pillar for Arab security and stability. Awareness is growing on the Iraqi political scene of the dangers Iranian influence can put Iraqis in.
Only with Iraq free from Iranian influence can the region break with sectarianism that destroyed many Arab countries, fuelled terrorism and helped regional powers interference. Even Iran boasted the occupation of three, and being close to occupying a fourth, Arab capital.
Arabs, wake up from your nightmare.
