Najaf Waiting for the Imam

Iran’s historical influence on Iraq has been shaped by the deep religious, cultural and historical ties between the two countries. Historically, it is impossible to imagine Iraq without Iran. Both are states with a predominantly Shia Muslim population, and the cities of Najaf, Karbala, Samarra and Kazimiyya in Iraq are the holy cities of Shiism with religious significance. However, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Iranian Ayatollahs, who rose to prominence among the Shia population and gained religious and political power, competed with the Iraqi Ayatollahs in Najaf, turning Qom into the sole center of political and religious authority for Shiism, and Najaf and Iraq into geopolitical centers of their transnational policies in the Middle East.
Iran has been trying to represent Shiite Islam and has been influential on Shiite groups since 1979. However, it is seen that the Qom Shiite elite that governs Iran has established relations with Sunni socialist groups in Kurdistan and Afghanistan in line with pragmatic interests.
Aso Haci's work titled "Awaiting the Imam of Najaf" reveals the near future of Iraq under the influence of Iran, the structure of the paramilitary forces affiliated with Iran, its relations with these forces, and Iran's political and military struggle with the United States in Iraq and the states in its hinterland.