The Iraqi parliament on Oct. 27 approved the cabinet of Muhammad Shia’ Al-Sudani, breaking a political deadlock that had plagued Iraq since the Oct. 2021 elections. What emerged in place of the political impasse were fears of a potential return of the targeting of foreign interests by armed groups, threatening the nascent government’s legitimacy.

Sudani is the choice of the Shiite Coordination Framework, a grouping of Shiite parties allied with Iran—and with close relationships with many of the factions accused of carrying out attacks on the interests of other countries. Concerns have grown that parties in the Coordination Framework may give political cover to such groups, or that factions will resort to violence as a part of political competition.

Will the targeting of foreign interests resume?

The relationship between the Coordination Framework and armed groups is complex and multi-layered. Some political parties in the Iran-backed constellation have their own armed wings. For example, inside the Fatah Alliance are the Badr Organization and its paramilitary group, and the Sadiqoon bloc whose armed wing is Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq. Other armed units are linked to and supportive...