Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats to target leaders of Iraqi factions have raised questions over whether his remarks signal a real danger or are merely for political show—and how Baghdad will respond.

As UN sanctions on Tehran take effect following the expiration of the so-called snapback mechanism, Iraqi political figures are warning of serious repercussions for their country, especially after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hinted at Tehran’s plans to navigate the crisis.

Iranian diplomat Saeed Khatibzadeh has been making headlines for months, not only because he once served as the Foreign Ministry’s spokesman and later as an ambassador, but also because he is regarded as the youngest figure in Tehran’s diplomatic circle.

The Iranian government continues to grapple with the presence of spies across its vast territory, amid concerns that they could carry out attacks soon under orders from “Israel’s” intelligence service, Mossad.

Days after Iranian officials rejected calls to dissolve the PMF, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, arrived in Baghdad on August 11, 2025, for a three-day visit to sign a joint security memorandum.