Formal Position Statement on Ending Iranian Influence in Iraq
National Council of Iraqi Opposition (NCIO)
Conseil national de l’opposition irakienne
Position Statement: Ending Iranian Influence in Iraq
Date: August 26, 2025
The National Council of Iraqi Opposition (NCIO), a federally incorporated not-for-profit organization in Canada , affirms that Iraq’s sovereignty, security, and future belong to the Iraqi people — not to foreign powers.
For over two decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran has exerted deep and destabilizing influence over Iraq through:
- Armed proxy militias operating outside state control, responsible for assassinations, intimidation, and attacks on civilians.
- Political coercion, including interference in elections, manipulation of government formation, and control of key ministries.
- Economic domination through smuggling, energy dependence, and control of border trade.
- Suppression of civil society, including the targeting of activists, journalists, and youth leaders who oppose foreign interference.
This influence undermines Iraq’s constitutional institutions, violates the principle of national sovereignty, and fuels corruption, sectarianism, and instability.
Our Core Principles
As a nonpartisan, charitable organization under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, the NCIO upholds the following principles:
- Iraqi Sovereignty
Iraq must be governed by its people, through democratic institutions, not by foreign embassies or militia commanders. - Civilian Rule & Constitutional Order
Power must derive from the Iraqi Constitution and democratic elections — not from armed groups or foreign patrons. - Human Rights & Civil Society
Iraqi activists, women, and youth must be free to speak, organize, and demand reform without fear of violence or arrest. - Peaceful, Lawful Advocacy
The NCIO rejects violence and armed conflict. We advocate for change through education, civic engagement, and international diplomacy.
Our Call to Action
We call upon:
- The Government of Canada to:
- Impose targeted sanctions on Iranian officials and Iraqi militia leaders involved in human rights abuses and foreign interference.
- Expand support for Iraqi civil society, independent media, and human rights defenders.
- Recognize the NCIO as a legitimate representative of Iraqi-Canadian civic values.
- Global Affairs Canada & Parliament to:
- Hold public hearings on Iranian influence in Iraq.
- Include Iraqi diaspora voices in policy consultations.
- Fund programs that strengthen democratic resilience and counter disinformation.
- The United Nations & International Community to:
- Investigate violations of Iraq’s sovereignty.
- Protect activists and displaced persons.
- Support constitutional reform and electoral integrity.
