If Iran has its way, Abadi won't see a second term in Iraq
Iran is seeking to preserve its influence in Iraq and hopes Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who it believes is undermining its efforts there, will not lead the next government.
BAGHDAD — In a military parade July 15 in central Baghdad, Iraq celebrated its victory against the Islamic State (IS) in Mosul. In what many people view as an intentional snub of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, one regiment of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) wore what appeared to be the uniform of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Iraqi satellite channels broadcast the prerecorded video of the parade, showing a number of members not wearing the same uniform as the rest of the security formations parading in front of Abadi and the families of veterans who were killed in combat. This generated controversy on social media.
