Machine summary:
However, although on the ideological ground this alliance may seem to be possible, but the author argues that it will not materialize since, _on the one hand, the Iraqi Shia government has no other option except to keep a balance among the United States," its· neighbors particularly the ,Arab countries and Iran ·in order to survive the current chaotic situation, internally.
Haji-Yousefi, The Foreign Policy of the Islamic Republic oflran in the Shadow of Regional Developments (Persian) (Tehran, !PIS, 2005) 8 For a good review oflranian perspectives of Iran-Iraq war see, F.
In the Persian Gulf, an Iraqi-Iranian alliance will have great impact on the security in this region.
©Institute for Political and International Studies / i i r \ I TI-IE SHIA FACTOR IN IRAN-IRAQ RELATIONS 41 accommodate other major actors namely the· United States and the Arab countries who are mostly worried of Iran's intentions in the region.
Accordingly, the Iraqis in general and the new government of Jafari and then Maleki in particular, knew very well that they had to attract the cooperation of all actors involved in Iraq in order to succeed in creating stability and security in the country.
In sum, Iran under president Ahrnadi-nejad may end its policy of short-term cooperation THE SHIA FACTOR IN JRAN-IRAQ RELATIONS 37 The overthrowing of Saddam and the occupation of Iraq by the United States in 2003, removed the most important source of security threat for Iran and the three consecutive elections after the fall of Saddam brought to power a Shiite-dominated government in Iraq.