Influencing the leaders of the Popular Mobilization .. Reuters: Iran intervened to prevent the overthrow of the Iraqi prime minister

Reuters quoted sources close to two of the most influential figures in Iraq as saying that Iran intervened to prevent the overthrow of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi under the pressure of demonstrations that erupted weeks ago, at a time when Iraqi President Barham Saleh said yesterday that Abdul-Mahdi "agreed to Submit his resignation asking the political blocs of understanding to an acceptable alternative.

The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, had asked days before Hadi al-Amiri, head of the second largest parliamentary bloc in parliament to cooperate to withdraw confidence in the parliament from the Prime Minister, and expressed his willingness to cooperate with Sadr in a statement issued last Tuesday, but a secret meeting held on Wednesday changed the position Ameri, one of the most prominent leaders of the Popular Mobilization that supports Tehran.

Reuters quoted five sources familiar with the meeting as saying that the Quds Force commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Qasem Soleimani participated in the secret meeting in Baghdad, and asked Ameri and other leaders in the Popular Mobilization to continue to support Abdul Mahdi.

Iraq Security
An Iranian security official said Soleimani was present at Wednesday's meeting to "advise," and the same official, who asked not to be named, added that Iraqi security "is important to us and we have helped before." The Quds Force commander travels to Iraq and other countries in the region from now. To another, especially when our allies ask us for help. "

The leader of a Shi'ite group loyal to al-Amiri, one of the five sources with whom Reuters spoke about the meeting, said the trend was "to give Abdul Mahdi's government a deadline for reforms that will calm the street."

Another source familiar with Wednesday's meeting said many PMU leaders had expressed "fears that the overthrow of Abdul Mahdi would be a prelude to seeking to weaken the crowd."

The PMF is an umbrella group that includes mostly Iranian-backed Shiite paramilitary groups, has an influential role in parliament and has allies within the government. It officially reports to the prime minister, but has a command structure independent of the military.

Chest position
A politician close to Moqtada al-Sadr said al-Amri's conversation with Sadr changed after the meeting with Soleimani. "We believe that the current time is not appropriate to withdraw confidence from the government of Mr. Adel Abdul Mahdi, as this will help to worsen things and threaten the stability of the country," he said. ".

In response, Sadr said publicly that "if the resignation does not occur, more blood will be shed and will not work with Ameri again," in a statement that he would never enter into alliances with Ameri after that.

On the other hand, Iraqi President Barham Saleh said in a televised speech yesterday after a meeting with political blocs that the prime minister accepts the resignation if the political forces agree on "an acceptable alternative, in light of the commitment to constitutional and legal contexts and to prevent a constitutional vacuum."

On the other hand, the Iraqi Council of Representatives adjourned a session that was scheduled to be attended by the Prime Minister, said the presidency of the Council that the meeting will be held if the presence of Mahdi, otherwise it will proceed with the necessary constitutional procedures, she said, in a reference to the interrogation that may result in the removal of Abdul Mahdi.