The story: The apparent success of the Sadrist bloc in Iraq’s parliamentary elections has elicited reactions in neighboring Iran. While Reformists are expressing concerns that Baghdad may now deepen ties with Iran’s rival Saudi Arabia, conservatives argue that Sadrist leader Muqtada Al-Sadr shares certain goals with Tehran—including opposition to the US presence in the country.

The coverage: On Oct. 14, the hardline Kayhan newspaper, whose chief editor is appointed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote that “predicting future developments in Iraq is not easy but it is not hard to foresee what will happen if the American occupiers continue their presence there; continuation of the status quo"...