An American Visit Amid Escalation

🔴An American Visit Amid Escalation: Washington Directly Intervenes in Iraqi Politics and Imposes Its Threats

On December 1, 2025, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas arrived in Baghdad as part of a regional tour that included Turkey, Iraq, and Israel. A swift visit, but one loaded with clear messages:

Washington wants to seize control of the political game in Iraq and reset the balance of influence ahead of the 2025 Iraqi elections—even through direct pressure and open threats.

Iraq: The Primary Target of the Tour

From the moment Rigas landed in Baghdad, it was clear the visit was not merely ceremonial. Leaks from Iraqi decision-making circles spoke of direct American warnings to political forces, especially resistance factions, echoing the threatening tone used by U.S. Ambassador Mark Savana just days earlier.

Washington’s goals:

• Influence the shape of the next government, • Restrict the factions’ influence, • Ensure the balances established since 2003 remain unchanged.

Notably, the tour came after a series of security incidents in Iraq and Kurdistan: A rocket strike on the Kormor gas field halted production and sparked a fire, alongside rising tensions on the Iraq–Iran border. All this gave Washington further justification to claim it is “closely monitoring the situation” and considers Iraq a regional arena that cannot be left outside its control.

What Did Rigas Want from Turkey?

Turkish diplomatic sources leaked information suggesting Washington was worried about:

• Increased Turkish–Iranian security coordination in northern Iraq, • Resistance faction movements around Halabja and Kirkuk, • Progress in economic negotiations between Baghdad and Ankara beyond U.S. influence.

Thus, Rigas focused in Ankara on:

1. Preventing Turkey from opening broader lines of cooperation with Iran inside Iraq. 2. Pressuring to tie energy projects and trade corridors to U.S. oversight. 3. Securing Turkish support to block “uncomfortable political shifts” in Baghdad.

In short: Washington does not want Ankara playing an independent game in Iraq.

His Visit to Israel… The Most Critical Episode

From Israel, the American escalation phase truly began. According to Israeli media, Rigas’s agenda centered on two files:

• Supporting Israeli operations in Gaza and southern Lebanon, • Controlling the “Iraq front” so it does not become an additional source of pressure on Tel Aviv.

Sources in Tel Aviv said Washington wants Israel to:

• Expand intelligence-sharing on Iraqi resistance factions, • Coordinate positions to “prevent Iraq from becoming a direct support base for Hamas and Hezbollah.”

This explains why certain incidents inside Iraq escalated in parallel with Rigas’s tour.

Where Is Michael Rigas Now? Has He Really Returned to Washington?

At the time of writing, U.S. State Department sources confirmed Rigas had completed his tour and returned to Washington. But what followed the visit is more important than the visit itself.

All developments after his departure from Baghdad suggest the trip was part of a comprehensive pressure plan now being implemented on the ground.

Did His Visit Bring Real Changes Inside Iraq?

Yes, albeit unofficially. Immediately after the visit:

• U.S. rhetoric against the factions intensified, • Suspicious security movements appeared in some provinces, • Washington began exerting pressure through banking and financial channels, • Signs of direct intervention in government formation talks emerged.

The message was clear: “We are here… and we will not allow the rules of the game to change.”

The Central Bank’s “Unintentional Error”… Coincidence or Test?

Listing “Ansar Allah” and “Hezbollah” as terrorist entities by Iraq’s central bank—then retracting it—was not merely an administrative mistake. Indicators point to two possibilities:

1. Direct U.S. pressure pushing Baghdad to adopt financial restrictions against the resistance axis. 2. A test of Iraqi public opinion: How would people react? With anger? Silence? What will the mood be after the elections?

The angry reactions forced the government to withdraw the decision, exposing the fragility of the balance Washington is trying to impose.

Where Did Mark Savana Disappear Amid This Scene?

Ambassador Mark Savana did not vanish. On the contrary, Iraqi media reports indicate he:

• Manages intensive communication channels with multiple political parties, • Monitors the government formation file hour by hour, • Plays the role of “pressure coordinator” between Baghdad and Washington during and after Rigas’s visit.

In other words: Savana is the executive hand inside Iraq, while Rigas was the public political cover.

Conclusion

Rigas’s visit was not a passing tour. It was a step within an American project to redraw Iraqi politics and prevent the resistance axis from strengthening its influence. Turkey and Israel were part of the picture, but Iraq was the main testing ground. What unfolded after the visit confirms Iraq is no longer a passive arena… and that every American move will be met with resistance—both popular and political.

**🔵**[Link to the article in Arabic ](https://t.me/almuraqb/292)