The Iraqi Elections: Waiting for Sadr and Soleimani

The results of the Iraqi parliamentary election on May 12 are beginning to emerge, with over 90 percent of votes counted. Candidates aligned with Muqtada al-Sadr, a militia leader who has recently adopted nationalist rhetoric against both the United States and Iran, appear to have won the largest bloc of seats. In an attempt to counter this development, General Qassem Soleimani, a commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, is working to form an anti-U.S., pro-Iran coalition among the Shia parties. This election, and the push from Iran and General Soleimani to influence Iraqi politics, comes on the heels of America’s withdrawal from the JCPOA, leaving Baghdad to wonder whether partnering with Tehran is in the country’s best interests. In the past, Soleimani has successfully worked with Mr. Sadr and others in Iraq to promote Iran’s interests, but the results of this election may suggest that this strategy is losing its effect. On Tuesday, May 22, Hudson Institute hosted a panel to asses