First Fox – a group of young Iraqis launched an initiative called “Iraq only” with the goal of having better ties with the US and eliminating the retention of Iranian militias against Iraq.
The campaign to post stickers printed with Iraqi flags and featured in images of Iraqi militia leaders has begun by young people to strengthen the rule of law and build a democratic and citizen-based nation in Iraq It was a grassroots initiative. Iran's influence.
Fox News Digital has been entitled to the recent efforts Muqtada Al-Tamimi, one of the activists who have been lured over his experiences in social activities, his future goals in Iraq, and his activities to raise vigilance over Iran's impact. He spoke exclusively.
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Deliveryman has posted past signs showing leaders in Iran and Hezbollah, driving motorcycles along the roads in Baghdad on October 7, 2024. (Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)
“As activists, we are most struggling with Iran's impact on Iraq. Many of us have been lured and taken to illegal detention centres run by Iran-backed militias. The 20-something told Fox News Digital through his interpreter.
Al-Tamimi and some of his fellow activists were lured into an armed group lined up in Iran and tortured for five days. They were bound, abused, tortured, confiscated and cell phones and personal data without legal documents or signatures certifying their right to access these documents.
“As activists, we are persecuted for simply trying to raise our own flag. The Iraqi flag,” lamented Al-Tamimi.
Al-Tamimi said Iranian militias are immunized and do not respect the Iraqi constitution or the rights of Iraqis as citizens.
The poster entitled “Iraq and the Only Iraq” was issued by a new movement seeking to drive Iranian influence away from the country.
“The people who are the most harmful to Iranian militia are those like us who seek peace and coexistence in Iraq and our neighboring countries,” he said.
Al Tamimi and his fellow activists want a strong Iraq with a stable, integrated economy with the West.
“We believe that the Iraqi alliance with the West will make Iraq stronger, more stable and more prosperous.”
The desire to remove the influence of Al-Tamimi and his fellow Iranians and bring Iraq closer to the United States is something Tehran leaders fear most.
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The foundation of activism is 2021, when 312 Iraqis from Shia and Sunni communities were convened in Erbil at a conference promoted by the Peace Communication Centre (CPC) and called for peace and normalization with Israel. was first placed in. As the words of the conference spread to international media, Iran-backed militias issued death threats, and the Iraqi government issued a warrant for the conference's organizers. The CPC took steps to protect all participants from prison or to be affected.
“Iraq's only movement speaks of the growing demand for peace, development and the end of Iran's rule. We have been working to help these young men and women to express divine speed in driving change. I hope and hope that the US will do everything it can to help them,” CPC founder and President Joseph Browd told Fox News Digital.
More than 300 Iraqis will attend the meeting and discuss normalizing relations between Baghdad and Israel on September 24, 2021 in Arbil, the capital of Kurdistan Autonomous Region in northern Iraq. (Safin Hamid/AFP via Getty Images)
Iraq has become a central battlefield of regional control between the United States, Allied forces and Iran. Tehran uses Iraq's allies to exert regional influence and undermine Iraq's sovereignty through various proxy forces.
Iraqi Islamic Resistance is a group of Islamic Resistance armed under an Iran-supported “axis of resistance” umbrella. These groups managed and took responsibility for the attack that the Iraqi government killed three US service members in Jordan in January 2024.
The IRI has been engaged in armed operations against Israeli and the United States since October 7th. Also active in Iraq is the popular mobilised forces (PMFs), founded in 2014 to fight ISIS.
Iraq alone supports the US troops against Iraq's soil, despite the uncertain status of the 2,500-man military in the country.
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Photos of the Iranian leaders are held up by members of the Iraqi Islamic Movement, a popular mobilizing force faction, during a rally in Baghdad on April 5, 2024. (Murtaja Lateef/AFP via Getty Images)
“The presence of America in Iraq is not at all inconsistent with strong Iraq, but I am against it. A good relationship with the US means strong Iraq.”
Al Tamimi said he understands and appreciates the heavy prices that the US military has paid in supporting Iraq's stability and security since the 2003 invasion.
One aspect of the platform that could raise your eyebrows is recognizing Israel's position in the Middle East and wanting a close ties with Israel.
“Israel is a great country and has a great culture. We share a lot of geography with them. When we are looking for what we see and strong Iraq, we need to We need to seek strong partnerships with countries like Israel accordingly.”
Al-Tamimi also points out that daily Iraqis suffered and paid a high price for the alliance between Iraq and Iran. Physical infrastructure was destroyed, and Iranian interference was undermining the state's institutions. Eliminating Iranian influence will help Iraq, in their view, ultimately safer and more thriving.
“I think there's a strong Iraq if there's a strong relationship with Israel and the United States.”
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Al-Tamimi also sees positive signs in Iraq and the Middle East following the collapse of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in Syria.
“We believe that the removal of the Assad regime is a very good step towards undermining Iran's influence in the region, and Iraqis hope for better changes in the region.”
