The story: Iran’s outgoing intelligence minister is in Baghdad to meet with a series of senior figures, including top government officials. Mahmoud Alavi’s July 14 visit notably comes barely a week after a rare trip to the Iraqi capital by the commander of the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC-IO), Hossein Taeb. While the two Iranian spy chiefs often operate in tandem, relations between the two organizations they head are fraught with rivalries.

The details: Alavi has met with Iraqi President Barham Salih and..