Overview
- Washington is increasing pressure on Baghdad over Iran‑linked armed groups as Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani tries to balance ties with Tehran and the United States.
- The Independent High Electoral Commission says it has imposed strict monitoring of campaign spending and warns violators involved in buying votes will be immediately disqualified.
- A total of 7,768 candidates are competing for 329 seats across Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factions, including groups led by Nouri al‑Maliki, Ammar al‑Hakim, Mohammed al‑Halbousi and Mahmoud al‑Mashhadani.
- The Sadrist Movement and Haider al‑Abadi’s Victory Coalition are boycotting, with Sadrists publicly urging followers to stay home and Abadi citing corruption.
- Security concerns have sharpened after the Oct. 15 car‑bomb killing of candidate and Baghdad Provincial Council member Safaa al‑Mashhadani, which politicians condemned as a return to darker tactics.