Vol.16, No.1 | [Article] Revisiting the Proxy Intervention Theory: A Case Study of Iranian Influence in Iraq

The negotiations to revive the nuclear deal with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have stalled since mid-2022. One of the most prominent objections suggested by the opponents to the deal was that the sanctions removal would allow Iran to boost its military capability to aid terrorists all over the Middle East to pursue its strategic aspirations. This paper aims to demonstrate how Iran has utilized and continues to use irregular war techniques effectively to destabilize the region. The paper focuses on how Iran carries out proxy incursions in Iraq, one of the current battlegrounds with obvious Iranian involvement. Using a structured, focused comparison method to evaluate why and with what means Iran conducts proxy interventions in Iraq. The majority of the data was gathered from secondary sources such as books, journal articles, newspapers, and reports. This paper will add to the academic literature and benefit the political decision-makers to assess the impact of Iranian involvement on the overall security situation in the already unstable region.