Iranian government media outlets have broadcast footage depicting fighters from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, known as Hashd al-Shaabi, crossing into Iran’s Khuzestan province, sparking outrage among Iranian citizens who believe these militia groups are being deployed to suppress domestic dissent and bolster the current regime.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a message on X, the social media platform that has been inaccessible to regular Iranian citizens for several years, expressing gratitude to the “Muslim people of Iraq” for supporting Iran during what he termed an “unjust” conflict. In his post, Pezeshkian stated, “I warmly shake the hands of the people, officials, and fighters of Iraq in Mesopotamia.”
According to reports, PMF forces allegedly crossed into Iran in January and provided support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during violent operations against civilians. The presence of these foreign militia forces has intensified concerns about the Iranian government’s use of proxy groups to maintain control and suppress opposition movements within the country.
The deployment has generated significant backlash from Iranian citizens who view the arrival of these Iraqi forces as further evidence of their government’s willingness to use foreign fighters against its own population during periods of civil unrest.
