Tehran has been able to capitalize on sectarian ties with some Iraqi parties and armed groups with an eye toward gaining an advantage over the United States and perhaps even Iran's archrival Saudi Arabia, which has been drawing closer to Baghdad in the past two years. Now Iran is working to build relationships with Iraq's tribal leaders in an attempt to gain influence and ensure a greater footing in the country.

Iran's and Iraq's central governments are largely run by Shiite Muslims, while Saudi Arabia's government is run by Sunnis.

Raed al-Freiji, a tribal sheikh from Shiite-dominated Basra, told Al-Monitor, “Iran is trying to send a message to the US that it has managed to win over the sheikhs of Iraq and that it wants to wage war with the US in Iraq." He said government-affiliated Iraqi political parties "are implementing this agenda on [Iran's] behalf.”

Former Ninevah province Gov. Atheel al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, said in statements published March 27 on the official website of his political party, Mutahidoun Coalition, “Iran is trying to quarrel with the US by cementing its relations with the sheikhs of Iraqi tribes. For that reason, tribes are meeting and communicating with Iranian officials.”