Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghaji visits Baghdad amid sweeping anti‑corruption raids

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghaji arrived in Baghdad for official talks with Iraqi leaders, including Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi, as the capital’s Green Zone saw an unprecedented wave of security raids. Iraqi anti‑terrorism forces detained numerous members of parliament, senior politicians and prominent businessmen, acting on confessions from former oil deputy minister Adnan al‑Jumaili about a massive financial corruption scheme that involved more than $85 million in cash and gold.

The raids, ordered by Judge Diya Jafar of the anti‑corruption court, resulted in the seizure of dozens of luxury cars, large sums of cash and gold jewelry. Prime Minister al‑Zaidi personally supervised the operation, signalling a determination to dismantle networks alleged to be linked to Iran. Iranian officials, meanwhile, warned that the United States and Israel were attempting to undermine regional resistance fronts, framing the crackdown as part of broader geopolitical maneuvering.