Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq are hoping victories in the parliamentary elections on Tuesday will deepen their sway, the Financial Times reported on Monday, in polls Tehran views as a boon to its flagging regional fortunes.
The Coordination Framework—a coalition of pro-Iran parties and factions within the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)—have refrained from engaging in direct conflict with Israel since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Their low profile stands in contrast to Iran-aligned forces in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen, which have taken a more confrontational stance.
This strategic restraint amid a broader regional conflict has enabled Iraqi militias to focus on domestic politics, the FT reported.
By avoiding escalatory drone or missile strikes that have drawn retaliation against Iran’s other allies, the militias have preserved their operational strength—transforming potential battlegrounds into electoral strongholds.
“Iraq is both a historic ally and a cash cow for Iran. What [Tehran] wants is a stable Iraq to ensure money flows to them and their allies,” the Financial Times quoted an unnamed source familiar with internal political dynamics told
Key figures within the Coordination Framework—including leaders from Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata'ib Hezbollah - are leveraging their roles in the fight against ISIS and their involvement in post-war reconstruction to appeal to voters disillusioned by corruption and economic stagnation, the daily reported.
Strategic restraint
Citing internal documents and interviews, the FT reported that the coalition plans to contest up to 150 of the 329 parliamentary seats in the November 11 elections. A strong showing could allow them to shape the next government and secure control over key ministries such as defense and interior.
With Hezbollah suffering heavy losses in Lebanon, Hamas weakened in Gaza and Bashar al-Assad ousted in Syria, Tehran’s influence has reined, likely making Iraq an important venue for its regional outreach.
The lack of confrontation as the region was hit with heavy fighting, the paper reported, may indicate that Iraqi factions are prioritizing their economic privileges.
“Forget Iran and forget ideology: the factions are now playing with major money and they’re afraid to lose it either by getting bombed or sanctioned,” the FT quoted a senior Iraqi Shia politician close to militia groups as saying.
Larijani told a Tehran conference that Western concern over Iran’s nuclear activities was “only a pretext,” adding that calls to restrict Tehran’s regional influence and missile capabilities were aimed at weakening the Islamic Republic.
"(Iran) will not retreat from its path of independence and dignity, even at the cost of full confrontation,” the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said.
A surprise military campaign against Iran in June was capped with US strikes on three key nuclear sites, in attacks US President Donald Trump said "obliterated" the program.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but Israel and Western countries doubt its intentions. Trump seeks to resume talks halted by the June conflict but Tehran rejects US demands it negotiate over its missiles or support for armed regional allies.
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said last week Tehran had rebuilt its missile power beyond pre-war levels and that it seeks peace through diplomacy, but Iranians must not fear war.
Larijani accused the West of manipulating global systems for domination. Western powers, he said, had long used Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence as excuses to apply pressure.
“It is now entirely clear that the real objective of the United States and the West is to confront the Iranian nation. Just as after the recent war, they are demanding restrictions on Iran’s missile capabilities and regional role – issues that are none of their concern. Would they accept Iran commenting on the range of Europe’s missiles or its nuclear weapons?”
Iran’s foreign policy, he maintained, was never based on hostility toward the West but on safeguarding national interests through balanced trade and cooperation with neighboring countries.
“The basis of Iran’s policy has never been to cut trade with the West," he said, arguing that it was Western “domineering behavior and political interference” that disrupted cooperation and strained relations.
Khamenei’s role in the 12-day war
At the same event – We and the West: In Views and Thoughts of Khamenei – Larijani praised the Supreme Leader for what he described as hands-on management of Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June.
The 86-year-old theocrat appeared to be in hiding during the conflict as Israeli attacks killed hundreds of military personnel and civilians. Trump mooted assassinating Iran's veteran head of state, calling him the "so-called Supreme Leader."
Larijani said Khamenei maintained direct contact with field commanders, issued key operational orders, and oversaw both military and civilian responses during the conflict.
Khamenei’s “precise and steadfast” leadership, he added, helped reverse the early course of the war, describing the first three days as among the most intense.
Khamenei did not appear at any public gathering or event since the start of the 12-day war with Israel. He skipped the funerals of slain military commanders and nuclear scientists and did not even attend the annual mourning ceremonies in his Tehran compound. Khamenei reemerged after a 22-day absence in early July.