U.S. And Iranian Strategic Competition

Iraq is a key focus of the strategic competition between the United States and Iran. The history of this competition has been shaped by the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988, the Gulf War, the Iraq War that began in 2003, and the events that have followed. Both the US and Iran have competed to shape the structure of Iraq’s politics, governance, economics, and security.  The US has used its status as an occupying power and Iraq’s main source of aid, and Iran has used its networks, patronage, and support of key Shiite factions to win friends and influence policy in the same areas.
The Burke Chair has developed a new report that analyzes the competition between Iran and the U.S. in Iraq.  This report, entitled “U.S. AND IRANIAN STRATEGIC COMPETITION: Competition between the US and Iran in Iraq” Can be downloaded here: https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/110302_Comp_between_US_Iran_in_Iraq.pdf.

This report is part of a series that looks at every aspect of the ongoing US – Iranian strategic competition.  Previous reports include:

“U.S. AND IRANIAN STRATEGIC COMPETITION:  Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States”  which can be downloaded at: https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/101207_US_Competition_with_Iran_Saudi_Arabia.pdf

“GCC Security, Risk Assessment, and U.S. Extended Deterrence”   which can be downloaded at: https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/110202_GCC_Secur_US_Extended_Deter.pdf

“Strategic Competition With Iran: The Military Dimension” which can be downloaded at:
https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/100813_combined_burke_report.pdf

“Iran, Iraq, and the Changing Face of Defense Cooperation in the Gulf” which can be downloaded at: http://csis.org/files/publication/101028_GulfDefCoop.final.pdf