Unrest in Iraq in recent months has been about contesting the election, with the militia party Fatah refusing to accept the results. Iran is looking to intervene in the name of stability, and is admonishing their militia allies to accept the vote.
Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s party won the plurality in the vote. Iraqi PM Kadhimi has backed the result despite Fatah’s objections, which led to a failed attempt to assassinate him.
Iran Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani was rushed to Iraq to meet with militia figures almost immediately, both to tell them not to protest the vote, and trying to make sure there wouldn’t be other assassination attacks.
Both Iran and Iraq want to see the militias under control. Keeping them there is another matter, as the groups are nowhere near as loyal to Iran as advertised.
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