Screenshot courtesy Reza Sayah PBS ​​​​​​​NewsHour.
Screenshot courtesy Reza Sayah PBS NewsHour.

For PBS NewsHour, Reza Sayah and Gelareh Kiazand investigate U.S. claims of Iran's interference in Iraq and Iran's rising religious, political, and security presence there.

Today, Washington and its Gulf Arab allies are alarmed at Iran's growing influence in Iraq. The U.S. accuses Iran of destabilizing Iraq and meddling in its affairs.

News headlines often echo this view.

Iran's perceived interference in Iraq is used by Washington to determine and justify a policy of increased sanctions against Iran, closer ties to Saudi Arabia to counter Iranian influence, and increased spending to boost U.S. influence in Iraq.

How far has Iran extended its reach in Iraq and what are its intentions? And are U.S. concerns justified?

Sayah and Kiazand also look at how the United States has tacitly teamed up with archrival Iran to defeat ISIS, and why this rare occurrence is not a sign of things to come.

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