Saudis would like to see Iraq ‘hostile’ to Iran: Analyst

The recent unrest over popular economic demands that has wreaked chaos in Iraq has roots in the American occupation and the interference of US allies in the region, a political analyst says, adding that Saudi Arabia hates to see any government in Baghdad being close to Iran.

Elijah Magnier, a journalist and political commentator from Brussels, made the remark during the Friday edition of PressTV’s The Debate program, while commenting on Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s intention to resign.

Earlier this month, Iraqi Defense Minister Najah al-Shammari told France 24’s Arabic-language channel that a “third party” was behind shootings targeting demonstrators.

A few months ago, the Lebanese Arabic-language daily newspaper al-Akhbar reported that Iraqi security sources have uncovered a plan seeking to install a military strongman favored by the US by creating a power vacuum in the country.

Iraqi prime minister announces intention to resign following Sistani call

Adel Abdul-Mahdi announced he plans to resign in response to a call by the top Shia cleric.

“The Saudis don’t want to see Iraqis close to Iran, they don’t want to see Iraqis supporting Iran… The Saudis would like to see a governing system in Iraq that is very hostile to Iran and is ready to support whatever the Americans want to support and to pay any amount of money to achieve this objective,” Magnier told Press TV on Friday.

Asked whether the United States and its regional allies, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, have plans to exploit Iraq’s oil resources, Magnier said they intend to press on with that objective through destabilizing Iraq.

“The Americans are trying to inject very small amount of support by using people who are very trained in manipulating protesters and directing them whatever they want because an unstable Iraq and unstable Lebanon and Syria forge into the plan of Americans to spoil a stable region, particularly when these countries are considered the allies of Iran in the area,” the political analyst said.

Ayatollah Sistani warns of enemy plot seeking to create civil strife, bring back 'era of dictatorship'

Iraq

Kevin Barrett, an American author and scholar, the other panelist invited to The Debate program, said the resignation of the Iraqi premier was rooted in the United States' dissatisfaction with his political policies.

“One of the major reasons that this destabilization of Abdul-Mahdi’s government happened was that US occupation, which still has a lot of power in Iraq, and its partners, the Saudis and the Israelis, were displeased with some of Abdul-Mahdi’s policies,” Barrett said

He touched on the Iraqi prime minister speaking out against Israeli attacks on his country and the destruction of warehouses of the Iraqi pro-government Popular Mobilization Units, as well as his independent policies, such as Baghdad's plans to buy S-400s from Russia and buying infrastructure from China.

“One of the main purposes of invading, occupying and destroying Iraq was break it up and prevent this central government in Baghdad from continuing to use Iraq’s resources for the benefit of its own people,” Barrett added.

Nearly two months of protests have, primarily, rocked the capital city of Baghdad and southern areas of Iraq.

Anti-government protests flare up in Iraqi cities

Iraqis have held new anti-government protests across the country amid persisting discontent over economic conditions.

The rallies have, however, turned into violent confrontations on numerous occasions, with reports alleging that certain foreign-backed elements have been seeking to wreak havoc in the country.

Since October 1 more than 300 people have been killed in the country, according to the Iraqi parliament’s human rights commission.

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