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Source: https://news.yahoo.com/iran-strengthens-political-economic-hold-105927821.html
Iran Strengthens Political, Economic Hold over Iraq
(AFP) Ammar Karim - Pro-Iran parties now dominate Iraq's parliament, and in October they named a new prime minister. Iraq has become an "economic lifeline" for Iran, said Ihsan al-Shammari, a political scientist at the University of Baghdad. This is "even more so with sharpening Western economic sanctions and nuclear negotiations that do not seem to be leading to a favorable deal for Iran." Iran provides one-third of Iraq's gas and electricity needs. Iraq is the number one importer of Iranian goods. "With a pro-Iranian figure at the head of the government, Iran will be able to further take advantage of the Iraqi economy," said Fabrice Balanche, from France's Lumiere Lyon 2 university. Iran's influence can also be seen through its links with Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi, a former paramilitary force made up mainly of pro-Iran militias that have since been integrated into Iraq's regular forces.