The fledgling Iraqi government is in a tight spot. Sunnis and Kurds oppose the Shiite prime minister’s second-term nomination. Shiite factions are divided among themselves on the issue. The government is in a deadlock.

So to where does Iraq go for help? Its neighbor, Iran.

Of course, seeing as Shiites dominate the Iraqi government, it is not a surprising development that Iraq would seek Iran’s mediation. Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the largest party in the Shiite alliance, was the one who “demanded” Iran’s help. Nor is it unusual that Iran would agree to provide it.

More interesting, however, is the fact Iraq isn’t the only state agreeing to participate in official dialogue with that member of the old “axis of evil,” Iran. The United States is as well. (Intelligence sources assure us that back-channel negotiations have been going on between Washington and Tehran for some time). The United States announced yesterday that it is prepared to engage in talks with Iran about Iraq, giving the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, authorization to do so.

America’s willingness to publicly accept its archenemy Iran’s help in forming the national unity government in Iraq speaks volumes about the vulnerabilities of the greatest nation on Earth—especially considering Washington is now publicly acknowledging that Iran is meddling in Iraq’s affairs. This development is an admission that Iran already has a controlling influence in Iraq and the ability to create consensus among the Shiites.

As for Iran, whatever its precise impact on the government-forming negotiations, one thing is sure: Tehran will use this opportunity to cement its influence on the political future of Iraq.

To be sure, Iran has been doing this from the beginning of the post-Saddam Iraq: Iran-friendly Shiite parties held the balance of power in Iraq’s initial interim government, and they maintained a majority in last December’s elections. At the same time, certain key influential political figures—such as current Shiite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and the popular militia leader-come-politician cleric Moqtada al-Sadr—have close ties with Iran.

This is not to mention the fact that Iran has infiltrated the political system on the local level, has a controlling influence in the military, and has clandestine agents working for it throughout Iraq.

Dr. Martin D. Weiss describes the situation this way: “… I see a new storm on the horizon that most people seem to be ignoring:

“Iran’s President Ahmadinejad is marching ahead rapidly with a master plan to take over Iraq ….

“His special operatives have fanned out all over the country, training Iraqi militias and directing political assassinations.

“His military allies in Iraq—powerful Shiite militias originally founded in Iran—already dominate Iraq’s Interior Ministry and most of Iraq’s police force.

“His favorite Iraqi political party, also founded in Iran, was the outstanding winner in Iraq’s latest elections and is already the strongest in the country.

“This is Iran’s stealth war to take over Iraq” (Money and Markets, March 13).

Weiss goes on to relate how the U.S. has aided Iran in its goal every step of the way. When the U.S. ousted Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s borders were opened to Iran. While the U.S. fought the Sunni insurgency, Shiite militias became established, largely comprised of Iranians flooding over the border. Then, the U.S. unwittingly recruited these Iran-trained militia members into Iraq’s army and police force. U.S.-instigated popular elections brought Iranian-friendly Shiites to power.

Iran is well and truly entrenched in Iraq—thanks to America.

Now, in agreeing for Iran to share in negotiations on Iraq’s political future, the U.S. plays into Tehran’s hands once again.

This opening simply bestows legitimacy upon Iran’s efforts to influence Iraq’s future.

At the same time, the U.S. administration seems to be more determined than ever to seek an Iraq exit strategy in the face of declining public support at home and skyrocketing costs.

In an operation the U.S. military is making sure is well-publicized, some 1,500 troops and 50 aircraft launched an assault on a town 60 miles from Baghdad yesterday aimed at clearing the area of insurgents. Operation Swarmer is not so different to four others conducted in the area last year, Stratfor notes, except for the fact that it has a high level of Iraqi participation—and the U.S. government wants everyone to know that. Recently, the U.S. has been making a concerted effort to hand over security responsibilities to the Iraqis, to pave the way for withdrawal of U.S. troops. “The publicity surrounding Operation Swarmer,” Stratfor states, “appears to be part of a U.S. military public relations effort to show that Iraqi troops are capable of taking on more of the fight against insurgents in Iraq” (March 16).

All trends point to a retreating U.S. and an advancing Iran.

To America’s chagrin, for sure, Iraq’s future is inextricably tied to Iran and dependent upon Iran’s wishes.

Talking of the current political impasse, Iraq’s ambassador to Britain, Saleh al-Shaikhly, told cnn, “Iran obviously is a key. Why else would the United States want to talk to Iran?” (Reuters, March 16).

In the words of Dr. Weiss, “… Washington is still not facing up to—or not admitting—the ultimate danger:

“Iran and Iraq will form a new Shiite Islamic alliance. They will control oil reserves as large as Saudi Arabia’s. And they will cause turmoil in the world’s oil markets.

“The Shiites of Iraq have a very simple plan for us:

“They will cooperate as long as we are helping them squash their Sunni enemies in Iraq.

“They will turn against us when they feel we’re no longer on their side or they think they don’t need us any more.

“And when we begin withdrawing from Iraq, they will rush back into the arms of their true allies, their fellow Shiites of Iran.

“The end result will be the second Shiite Islamic Republic in the world—and a powerful economic, military and strategic alliance between Iran and Iraq that is extremely hostile to the United States” (op. cit.).

This insightful analysis by America’s leading investor advocate just happens to align with Bible prophecy. The time for the fulfillment of many end-time prophecies is frighteningly close. Read The King of the South to see the Bible’s perspective on these events in the Middle East.