Iraqi PM’s visit presents opportunity to curb Iranian aggression

U.S. policy in Iraq will take center stage when Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visits Washington, D.C. on April 14. The visit comes days after six nations and Iran reached a framework agreement that purports to limit Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. It is easy to miss the important connection between these two news stories.

Abadi’s visit to the U.S. offers an important opportunity for the Obama administration to reduce Iraq’s dependence on Iran and signal to Iran that it cannot continue its aggression against its neighbors.

{mosads}Under the leadership of Abadi’s predecessor, Nouri al-Maliki, Tehran began to wield enormous influence in Iraq. Maliki consolidated power among a small number of Shiites, which contributed to the rise of militias that now have more power than the Iraqi army. Maliki ordered murderous attacks on residents of Camp Liberty, who are members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK). As recently as last month, one Camp Liberty resident, Safar Zakery, appears to have been taken hostage.

In response to his pro-Iranian policies and destabilization of Iraq, the world community shunned Maliki and he was ultimately ousted. But Prime Minister Abadi has done little to reverse the damage. For its part, the U.S. has failed to encourage Abadi to distance his government from Tehran.

The framework agreement and the persistent uncertainties about it raise serious questions about America’s willingness to confront Iran over its aggression toward neighboring countries. Saudi-led airstrikes against Iran’s proxies in Yemen even raise questions about whether America is willing to support its allies in confronting Iran.

If Tehran came away from negotiations in Switzerland with the notion that the US will continue to look the other way on Iran’s domestic abuses and pursuit of regional hegemony, then the Obama administration has a greater responsibility than ever to use Abadi’s visit to pull Iraq away from Iran’s sphere of influence.

If President Obama does not immediately provide the Iraqis with the support that they need to confront ISIL without empowering Tehran, then Abadi may have little choice but to make himself beholden to the Iranians the same way that Maliki was.

When Abadi visits Washington, it should be made clear that Iran’s role against ISIL is not a source of leverage to be used during the nuclear talks. At the same time, those negotiations will not prevent the U.S. from pushing back against Iran’s destabilizing influence in Iraq and elsewhere.

Engagement with the world’s foremost sponsor of terrorism was not a sensible strategy. Obama has been too eager to strike a deal with Iran. In fact, Obama previously declared that he foresaw Iran becoming a “very successful regional power.” Using Abadi’s visit to finally challenge and counteract Iran’s presence in Iraq would clearly communicate to Iran that it cannot continue its aggression with impunity.

Kennedy served in the House from 1995 to 2011. He is the son of former Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).