The story: Amid a nascent realignment of regional politics, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ Al-Sudani has embarked on a high-profile visit to Iran. In wide-ranging face-to-face discussions for the first time since the downfall of Bashad Al-Assad in Syria, Sudani advocated for the gathering of international actors in Baghdad to foster “comprehensive regional dialogue.” While positioning himself as a potential mediator, the premier‘s diplomatic maneuvering may also serve to offload political weight for asserting Iraq’s growing political distancing from Iran...