- 🇮🇷/🇮🇶 JUST IN: According to Saudi media outlet Al-Arabiya, Quds Force General Ismael Qaani is currently in Baghdad

@Middle_East_Spectator

- ANALYSIS: Why the visit of Quds Force Commander Ismael Qaani is important

In the past month or two, the Quds Force General has visited several important countries related to the Iran-axis, including Lebanon, Syria and now Iraq.

Not only does this come amidst an increase in Israel - Hezbollah tensions, but also during a time in which, according to credible reports, the United States has pressured the Iraqi government to disband the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces; the coalition of militias that was created at the order of Ayatollah Sistani in 2014 after the fall of Mosul, in order to bring a destructive blow to ISIS in the Levant.

This coalition of pro-Iran groups, which almost singlehandedly defeated the so-called Islamic State, is still the number one political player in the Iraqi political scene, despite being internally divided.

Many of the PMU's militias are increasingly supportive of Muqtada Sadr, a nationalist Shiite religious cleric and former ally of Iran. These Sadrists, who decisively won the Iraqi election of 2021, have now been pushing for a strong independent Iraqi state, free of both American and Iranian influence.

However, these Sadrists, who are heavily critical of Iran, are now even willing to cooperate with the American occupation to expel Iranian influence in Iraq. This has led to other Shiite militias straight up viewing the Sadrists as American stooges and power-hungry traitors.

On the other hand, there are still many pro-Iran factions, such as Asa'ib Ahl-al-Haqq, led by the Shiite cleric Qais al-Khazali. His faction, amongst many others, are fervent opponents of Muqtada Sadr. This contrast in ideology between nationalists and pro-Iran loyalists has led to severe tensions.

Perhaps, General Qaani is in Baghdad to mediate between these Shiite militias, who used to be 90% pro-Iran, but are now becoming increasingly independent and reckless.

At the same time, we hear reports of the United States sending more and more troops to bases in Iraq and Syria, coupled with threats of closing the Al-Bukamal border crossing on the Iraqi side to stop the flow of Iranian arms to Syria and Lebanon.

Regardless of what the reason is, Ismael Qaani's predecessor, Qasem Soleimani, always functioned as a uniting force and mediator between the several pro-Iran factions and those more critical of Iran.

Visits by IRGC leaders in the past have always been at important and critical moments, and this time is probably no different.

Let's see if General Qaani can do the same job as his predecessor, to somehow unite the Iraqi political scene, while at the same time preventing the American schemes from coming to fruition.

@Middle_East_Spectator

- 🇺🇸/🇮🇶 BREAKING: According to observers, something is brewing in Iraq

Throughout this week, the amount of US troops has been steadily rising, and unusual movements have been reported.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷/🇸🇦 Iranian Foreign Minister regarding Saudi Arabia:

- The Iranian President has accepted King Salman's invitation to visit Riyadh, and this visit will take place at the appropriate time, in the form of an official state visit with full ceremony.

- I thank Saudi Arabia for properly facilitating the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages for Iranian pilgrims.

- We discussed the importance of the Palestinian cause as the main issue of the Islamic World today.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷/🇺🇸/🇮🇶 EXCLUSIVE: Ismael Qaani and the Iraqi government reached a compromise regarding Kurdish groups stationed in Iraq

At the request of the Iraqi government, the IRGC Quds Force Commander Ismael Qaani has ordered the Shiite resistance factions within Iraq not to provoke or target US troops during the next few weeks.

In exchange for this request, General Qaani asked that the Iraqi government take decisive action to disarm Kurdish seperatist groups stationed in northern Iraq, who carry out operations inside Iran, and to stop the flow of weapons across the border.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 BREAKING: The arrest of a lady who disturbed the public peace by breaking the dress code as an act of 'protest'

The lady has a history of unlawful conduct, and she was arrested in October last year for 'inciting public disturbance'.

She will most likely receive a few months in prison or a monetary fine to be paid to the municipality of Tehran.

@Middle_East_Spectator

- Be honest, and your input will determine future posts to some extent

- The people have spoken.

- 🇮🇷/🇸🇪 BREAKING: Sweden has again allowed for a Quran-burning, this time in front of the Iranian embassy in Stockholm

@Middle_East_Spectator

- 🚨🇺🇸/🇮🇶 BREAKING: Experts say the US military might be preparing for an official withdrawal from Iraq and possibly Syria

With an election coming up in the United States, Biden might be wanting to use the withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East as a temporary momentum boost for his 2024 campaign.

Observers say the extra troops that were flown into Iraq and Syria are there to maintain security and help with logistics in case of an eventual withdrawal.

@Middle_East_Spectator

- NOTE: This is of course impossible to confirm, but many observers have pointed out that there is no other good reason for the increase in troops

At the same time, the Iranian and Shiite resistance factions have agreed not to target US forces during the next few weeks.

These things lead people to speculate that something major might happen soon. In the case of a withdrawal, it makes sense for Iran to agree not to intervene, to let it happen as safely as possible.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇷🇺/🇰🇵 Reportedly, Russia is using North Korean ammunitions in the war against Ukraine

The above artillery shell reads:

"Long live the workers party of Korea!"

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇸🇪 A quick rant about Sweden and the Quran burnings

First of all, let me begin by saying this unequivocally: I am a Muslim, and as a Muslim I fundamentally oppose the burning of any Holy Book of the Abrahamic religions, be it Islam, Christianity or even Judaism.

However, people who call Sweden a terrorist regime, or an Islamophobic country etc. have not understood the situation properly in my opinion.

We need to understand it is not Sweden who is burning the Quran, but a few extremist individuals who do so under the protection of Swedish 'freedom of speech' laws.

Do I agree with these laws? The answer is simple: No.

In my opinion, insulting a religion and over one billion of its adherents is not freedom of speech, but blasphemy & inciting violence.

However, we should keep in mind that Sweden is a secular Western nation, in which liberalism and democracy are the two main values. Therefore, we cannot blame them for allowing such incidents under the pretext of freedom of speech.

Some people might disagree, but we cannot legitimately call Sweden an 'Islamophobic' regime, because they are at least consistent; last month, they also approved a request to burn the Jewish Holy book, the Torah.

From a secular Western perspective, there is no real issue with allowing Quran burnings, as long as the burning of other books is similarly allowed under the same equal circumstances.

If they had allowed the burning of the Quran, but not the burning of the Bible for example, only then it would have been Islamophobic.

People need to understand that Sweden is acting from a liberal secular perspective, not from an Islamic one, and according to that logic, there is nothing inherently wrong with the situation, as long as all cases are treated equally.

I do not condone such a secular liberal society, in fact I vehemently oppose it; however, we must understand these actions from their own ideology.

All I'm trying to say is that we as Muslims cannot judge a secular Western nation for not having the same morals as we do.

@Middle_East_Spectator

- Inb4 people say "Omg! Admin agrees with Qur'an burnings!"

Try to use your brain cells while reading this piece, and see what I'm really trying to say.

— 🇸🇦⚽️ BREAKING: Saudi Arabia wants to reward the winner of the Saudi Pro League with qualification to the UEFA Champions League

The idea would be to formulate a request to UEFA for a "wild card" team to participate in the Champions League, which will be played by 36 teams from 2024/25.

Critics have ridiculed the idea, stating that apparently "money can change geography", refering to the fact that the UEFA is only open to European nations.

If sucessful, qualification of Saudi teams like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr could mean a return of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to the Champions League.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷/🇸🇦 BREAKING: The Iranian Foreign Minister has met with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman in Jeddah

@Middle_East_Spectator