The Gulf wants to end attacks from Iraq, but will it influence Baghdad before Iran does? - analysis

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Mohammed Al-Badawi, traveled to Baghdad with a clear objective: to persuade Iraq to curb attacks targeting Gulf states that originate from Iraqi territory. The visit underscored the GCC's demand that Iraqi soil not be utilized for launching assaults on its neighbors, a situation that has escalated with Iran's increased regional activities.

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Al-Badawi will be in Baghdad to stop attacks targeting the Gulf from Iraq.

According to Iraqi media, Al-Badawi met with Iraqi officials to discuss regional developments and to secure assurances that Iraq would be kept "away from the battlefield." The talks also aimed to announce the Gulf states' support for Iraq in various fields, contingent on Baghdad's commitment to preventing the use of its territory for attacks. A government source reported that the GCC chief would stress the need to prevent such incidents, "as happened during the past."

While Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi is reportedly trying to get militias to hand over their arms, Iran's influence in Iraq remains a formidable factor. This is particularly relevant as Iran is expected to demonstrate its power in Iraq this week, following the funeral of its late Supreme Leader, Ali al-Khamenei. The question remains whether the Gulf states' appeals will hold more sway in Baghdad than Iran's long-standing influence.

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the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council will arrive in Baghdad tomorrow to discuss developments in the region and to emphasize that Iraqi territory will not be used to launch attacks on Gulf states.

Official reports from Iraqi state media indicated that the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zidan, also discussed cooperation in judicial and legal fields with Al-Badawi. The meeting, attended by the Iraqi Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Safia al-Suhail, resulted in a general report about enhancing cooperation between Iraq and GCC countries. However, the core issue of militia-driven attacks on the Gulf remains the primary focus of the GCC's diplomatic engagement.

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Al-Badiwi will hold meetings with Iraqi officials to discuss the latest developments in the region and to announce the Gulf states' support for Iraq in various fields. He added that "the talks will include stressing the need to keep Iraq away from the battlefield and to prevent the use of Iraqi territory to launch any attack on the Gulf states, as happened during the past."