AhlulBayt News Agency: Baghdad’s Friday prayer leader has warned that West Asia is witnessing an unprecedented geopolitical and military realignment, describing Iraq as one of the central arenas in a rapidly evolving regional equation.
Speaking about the latest developments, Ayatollah Sayyid Yasin Mousawi, a senior cleric based in Baghdad and a prominent scholar of the Najaf seminary, said the region is experiencing what he termed an “unprecedented military and political boiling point.”
He characterized the situation as a strategic reshuffling of the regional “chessboard,” stressing that ongoing events are neither isolated nor coincidental. Rather, he said, they form interconnected components of a broader project aimed at recalibrating the balance of power across West Asia.
“It is simplistic to assume that political developments occur independently of regional and international dynamics,” he stated. “There is a deliberate attempt to fragment major issues and occupy public opinion with marginal details in order to obscure the larger strategic transformations underway.”
Ayatollah Mousawi criticized certain media outlets for either lacking serious political analysis or operating within agendas that ultimately serve foreign actors.
Concerns Over ISIS Transfers and US Military Movements
The cleric also addressed reports about the transfer of thousands of Daesh (ISIS) militants from Syria’s al-Hasakah province into Iraq, describing the move as highly alarming.
He said the reported relocation coincides with discussions about Washington’s plans to reconfigure the Syrian theater and facilitate new dynamics on the ground.
“This issue cannot be analyzed in isolation,” he warned, expressing concern about the possible deployment of these militants in bases inside Iraq. “It must be understood within a broader security framework.”
Ayatollah Mousawi further pointed to reports of US forces withdrawing from the al-Tanf base in southern Syria and handing control to armed groups linked to Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. He described the base as strategically significant within the Syria–Iraq–Jordan triangle.
Questioning the motives behind the US troop redeployment, he suggested that the move may not represent a genuine withdrawal, but rather a tactical repositioning—possibly involving transfers to Iraqi territory or northern Iraq.
“These movements reflect military reorganization rather than retreat,” he said.
Domestic Political Deadlock Linked to Regional Turmoil
The senior cleric also linked Iraq’s prolonged delay in electing a president to the broader regional climate.
He stressed that constitutional processes cannot be detached from the tense geopolitical environment, noting that under Iraq’s constitution, the appointment of a prime minister depends on the election of a president.
Blaming specific political factions for the impasse before resolving the constitutional sequence, he said, amounts to a media operation aimed at diverting public attention.
Turkey’s Posture and Shifting Spheres of Influence
Ayatollah Mousawi further commented on recent Turkish positions toward Iraq, stating that Ankara’s posture should be understood within the broader context of regional power recalibration.
He emphasized that Iraq is not insulated from ongoing efforts to redraw spheres of influence across West Asia.
US–Iran Tensions and the Balance of Deterrence
Addressing rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, the cleric said recent US threats have failed to generate a unified regional front against Iran.
He noted that some countries hosting American military bases have indicated that attacks on those facilities would not be considered violations of their sovereignty, but rather part of the confrontation between the United States and Iran.
According to Ayatollah Mousawi, this shift has altered the deterrence equation and complicated Washington’s strategic calculations.
He reiterated that, based on Iran’s declared position, current negotiations are strictly limited to the nuclear file, and do not include discussions on missile capabilities or regional influence.
The cleric also pointed to internal disagreements within the United States, as well as pressure from the Israeli regime, as signs of ongoing disputes in Washington over how to handle the Iran dossier.
Call for National Unity and Preparedness
In his concluding remarks, Ayatollah Mousawi urged Iraqi political forces to strengthen internal cohesion and rely on popular capacities to prepare for any potential developments.
Citing the Quranic verse, “And prepare against them whatever you are able of power,” he stressed that absolute surrender or unconditional compromise cannot safeguard the country.
Instead, he underscored that public awareness, national unity, and the role of the religious authority constitute the primary pillars for protecting Iraq’s sovereignty.
Despite mounting challenges, Ayatollah Mousawi concluded, Iraq possesses significant resilience and strategic depth.
“No external project can impose its will on Iraq so long as its people remain vigilant and united,” he said.
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