Iran is working to coordinate closely with allied militias as the ceasefire with the United States nears its end, amid growing concern that fighting could resume in the near future.

A political source in Iraq told Kan News that Tehran is actively engaging with Shiite militias in the country in preparation for a possible renewal of hostilities with the United States.

In recent days, Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani visited Iraq, in what was described as an effort to preserve Iran’s influence in the neighboring country amid tensions with Washington. Qaani, who survived the war and had not been seen publicly since its outbreak, arrived in Baghdad for a visit that was characterized as an attempt by the Iranian regime to help secure the appointment of a prime minister aligned with Tehran.

However, according to the Iraqi political source who spoke with Kan News correspondent Roi Kais, Qaani’s trip also had a military dimension, aimed at coordinating and “aligning positions” with leaders of pro-Iranian militias.

During the course of the war, these Iran-backed militias carried out attacks on American targets in Iraq and across the region. The Iraqi source said that officers from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards closely supervised their operations throughout the conflict.

Qaani’s visit appears intended to ensure that these forces are prepared for another round of fighting if Pakistan’s mediation efforts fail. At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have also signaled that they are ready to resume hostilities if the ceasefire collapses.

{Matzav.com}