Inside the US-Iran Shadow War for Control of the Middle East

VICE News
16 Jun 202140:12
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script delves into the complex geopolitical landscape of Iran and its influence in the Middle East. It recounts the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist suspected of leading a secret nuclear program, amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions and covert operations. The narrative explores Iran's portrayal as a regional force against terrorism, its role in Iraq, and the implications of the U.S.'s targeted killings of key Iranian and Iraqi figures. The script raises questions about the future of Iran's proxy forces and the ongoing shadow wars that shape the region's stability.

Takeaways
  • πŸ”¬ Iran's defense ministry confirmed the assassination of a top nuclear scientist suspected of leading a secret nuclear weapons program.
  • πŸ’₯ The scientist was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on a car, which later exploded according to Iranian media.
  • 🌍 The visit to Iran was prompted by a period of intense tension and tragedy, including the shooting down of a passenger jet and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • πŸ—οΈ The new U.S. administration's invitation to Iran seemed to carry a specific message, offering unprecedented access to the country's nuclear program and political climate.
  • πŸ•΅οΈ Pro-government analyst Said Khashoggi implicated Israel and the United States in the assassination, suggesting it was a strategic move that could trigger war.
  • πŸ₯ The script discusses the ongoing threat to Iran's nuclear scientists, with many assassination attempts and the survival of one, Dr. Abbasi, who shares his experience.
  • πŸŽ₯ The documentary crew's access was heavily monitored by Iranian intelligence agencies, aiming to portray Iran as a positive regional force despite conflicts.
  • 🀝 Iran's efforts to fight terrorism and stabilize Iraq are highlighted, suggesting a complex reality beyond the narrative of conflict with the U.S. and Israel.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ The script touches on the assassination of General Qasim Suleimani, a key figure in expanding Iranian influence and fighting against ISIS.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ The documentary explores the role of Iran's proxies, such as the Badr Brigade, in enforcing Iranian interests and fighting ISIS in Iraq.
  • πŸ›οΈ The U.S. presence in Iraq is diminishing, while Iran's influence, through militias like Hashd al-Shaabi, continues to grow, raising questions about future stability in the region.
Q & A
  • What was the method of assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist?

    -The top Iranian nuclear scientist was assassinated using a remotely controlled machine gun mounted on a car, which later blew up.

  • What is the significance of Dr. Fakhri Zadeh's assassination to the Iran nuclear program?

    -Dr. Fakhri Zadeh was a key scientist in Iran's nuclear program, and his assassination could have significant implications for the program's progress and Iran's response to the act.

  • What does the script suggest about the potential retaliation for the assassination of Dr. Fakhri Zadeh?

    -The script suggests that any retaliation would likely target someone of strategic importance within Israel, as the assassination was intended to inflict a strategic loss on Iran.

  • What is the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) mentioned in the script?

    -The JCPOA, or Iran Nuclear Deal, is an agreement that was exited by President Trump and is back on the table, aiming to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

  • What role does the script suggest Iran is playing in the region, particularly in relation to fighting terrorism?

    -The script portrays Iran as a positive force in the region, fighting terrorism and stabilizing neighboring Iraq, while also being involved in a shadow war with the U.S. for control of the Middle East.

  • What is the significance of General Qasim Suleimani's assassination in the context of U.S.-Iran relations?

    -General Qasim Suleimani's assassination is a significant escalation in U.S.-Iran relations, as he was the second most powerful man in Iran and played a key role in fighting ISIS and spreading Iranian influence.

  • How does the script describe the situation at the Iran-Iraq border?

    -The script describes a tense situation at the Iran-Iraq border, with the crew experiencing difficulties in crossing due to political interference and being held in a holding cell for several hours.

  • What is the role of the Badr Brigade in Iran's influence in Iraq?

    -The Badr Brigade serves as Iran's enforcers in Iraq, known for fighting ISIS and for their brutal treatment of anyone who crosses them, and they are part of the larger Hashd al-Shaabi forces.

  • What narrative does the script suggest Iran is trying to portray regarding its fight against ISIS?

    -The script suggests that Iran is trying to portray itself as working hard to defeat ISIS, a narrative that contrasts with the U.S.'s apparent disengagement from the fight and the region.

  • What are the potential consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq as described in the script?

    -The script suggests that the U.S. invasion of Iraq has led to unintended consequences, including the strengthening of Iran's influence in the region and the ongoing shadow wars that show no signs of resolution.

  • What is the script's perspective on the future of Iran's proxies and their role after the fight against ISIS?

    -The script raises concerns about what will happen to Iran's proxies, such as the Hashd al-Shaabi, once the fight against ISIS ends, suggesting that their power and influence may continue to grow.

Outlines
00:00
πŸ”¬ Assassination of a Nuclear Scientist

The script begins with the news of the assassination of a top Iranian nuclear scientist, suspected by the West and Israel of leading a secret nuclear weapons program. He was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun mounted on a car that later exploded. The video then transitions to a visit to Iran, a country described as enigmatic and on edge due to recent events such as the shooting down of a passenger jet, a severe COVID-19 outbreak, and tightening sanctions. The visit is timed with the new U.S. president's administration, and the Iranian government seems to have a specific message to convey, offering unprecedented access to the foreign crew.

05:04
🚨 Surviving an Assassination Attempt

The script moves on to discuss the precarious situation of Iran's nuclear scientists, who have been frequent targets of assassination attempts, often successful. The crew meets Dr. Abbasi, a scientist who survived an assassination attempt, and views the car he was in just before it exploded. The encounter reveals the high stakes and the fear felt by those involved in Iran's nuclear program, as well as the broader implications of such targeted killings.

10:06
πŸŽ₯ Propaganda and the Fight Against ISIS

The narrative continues with the crew's interactions with a movie director known for his patriotic depictions of Iranian militarism and a legendary Iranian general and spymaster, who was assassinated. The video touches on the complexities of the situation, with Iran portraying itself as a force against terrorism while facing accusations of imperialism from the U.S. The crew's visit to a holding cell on the Iranian border and the National Defense Museum further illustrates the ongoing shadow war for control of the Middle East.

15:11
πŸ•΅οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Encounters with ISIS and Iranian Influence

The script describes the crew's attempt to meet with an alleged ISIS fighter captured by one of Suleimani's militias, marking the first time an American crew would meet an ISIS fighter captured by Iran. Despite initial setbacks and the tense nature of the situation, the crew eventually interviews an ISIS prisoner, exploring Iran's narrative of combating terrorism and the U.S.'s apparent shift in focus away from ISIS.

20:25
🏭 The Power of Iranian Militias and Proxy Wars

The video script delves into the influence of Iranian-backed militias, particularly the Badr Brigade, which has been instrumental in enforcing Iran's interests in Iraq and fighting ISIS. The crew's journey to the Iraqi border and their encounter with the Badr Brigade highlights the extent of Iran's power and its role in regional conflicts, as well as the potential consequences of the U.S.'s disengagement from the Middle East.

25:28
πŸ›‚ Border Tensions and the Legacy of Suleimani

The script recounts the crew's challenging border crossing from Iran to Iraq, which was fraught with delays and uncertainty due to political interference. Once in Iraq, the narrative focuses on the legacy of General Qasim Suleimani, who was assassinated in a U.S. drone strike and is seen as a key figure in expanding Iranian influence in the region. The crew visits the site of Suleimani's assassination and explores the implications of his death.

30:35
πŸ—½ The U.S. and Iran's Role in the Fight Against ISIS

The video script examines the role of the U.S. and Iran in the fight against ISIS, questioning the U.S.'s rationale for assassinating key Iranian figures and the impact on regional stability. It also explores the growth of Iranian influence in Iraq, particularly through the Hashd al-Shaabi militias, and the potential long-term consequences for the region as the U.S.'s presence diminishes.

35:49
πŸ›οΈ The Future of Iranian-Backed Militias

The final paragraph discusses the future of Iran-backed militias in Iraq, particularly the Hashd al-Shaabi, which has grown significantly in numbers and influence. The script raises concerns about what will happen to these militias once the fight against ISIS ends and ponders the broader geopolitical implications of Iran's expanding power in the Middle East, especially as the U.S. becomes increasingly disengaged.

Mindmap
Future of Hashd al-Shaabi
Iran's Growing Influence
US Disengagement
Assassination of General Suleimani
JCPOA and Nuclear Deal
Historical Context
Influence in Iraq
ISIS Fight
Proxy Wars
Foreign Interference
Elections and Political Shifts
National Tensions
Potential Retaliation
Impact on Iran's Nuclear Program
Dr. Fakhrizadeh's Assassination
Unintended Consequences
US-Iran Relations
Iran's Role in the Middle East
Political and Social Climate in Iran
Assassination of Nuclear Scientists
Iran's Nuclear Program and Regional Influence
Alert
Keywords
πŸ’‘Assassination
Assassination refers to the deliberate killing of a high-profile individual, typically for political or ideological reasons. In the video, the assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist and the implications of such acts are central to the narrative, illustrating the ongoing tensions and covert operations in the Middle East.
πŸ’‘Nuclear Scientist
A nuclear scientist is an expert in the field of nuclear physics, often involved in the development of nuclear technology for energy or defense purposes. The script mentions the assassination of a key Iranian nuclear scientist, emphasizing the role of such individuals in geopolitical conflicts and the potential for nuclear proliferation.
πŸ’‘Remote-Controlled Machine Gun
A remote-controlled machine gun is a weapon system that can be operated from a distance, often used for military or security purposes. The script describes the use of such a weapon in an assassination, highlighting the advanced and covert nature of modern conflicts.
πŸ’‘Iran Nuclear Program
The Iran Nuclear Program refers to Iran's efforts to develop nuclear technology, which has been a point of international concern due to suspicions of potential weaponization. The video discusses the impact of the assassination of key scientists on this program and the broader implications for regional stability.
πŸ’‘JCPOA
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is an agreement reached in 2015 to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The script mentions the JCPOA in the context of U.S.-Iran relations and the challenges of maintaining international agreements amidst political shifts.
πŸ’‘Proxy
A proxy is an entity that acts on behalf of another, often in a political or military context. The video discusses Iran's use of proxies, such as militias, to exert influence and control in the region, illustrating the complex dynamics of power in the Middle East.
πŸ’‘ISIS
ISIS, or the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is a militant group known for its extreme ideology and territorial control in parts of Iraq and Syria. The script explores Iran's role in fighting against ISIS, showing the multifaceted nature of conflicts in the region.
πŸ’‘Suleimani
General Qasim Suleimani was a high-ranking Iranian military officer who played a significant role in expanding Iran's influence in the Middle East. The video discusses his assassination and its impact on regional politics and Iran's strategic position.
πŸ’‘Shadow War
A shadow war refers to a conflict that takes place outside of formal, declared warfare, often involving covert operations and proxy forces. The script uses this term to describe the ongoing, less visible conflicts between the U.S., Iran, and other regional actors.
πŸ’‘Holding Cell
A holding cell is a temporary confinement area, often used by law enforcement or immigration authorities. In the context of the video, a holding cell is mentioned as part of the challenges faced by the crew at the Iran-Iraq border, reflecting the difficulties of navigating the complex geopolitical landscape.
πŸ’‘Unintended Consequences
Unintended consequences refer to outcomes that were not foreseen or intended by the actors involved in a situation. The video concludes by discussing the unintended consequences of U.S. actions in Iraq, such as the strengthening of Iran's influence in the region.
Highlights

Iran's defense ministry confirms the assassination of a top nuclear scientist suspected of leading a secret nuclear weapons program.

The scientist was killed by a remote-controlled machine gun and a car explosion, as per Iranian media reports.

The documentary crew received unprecedented access to Iran during a time of political tension and global scrutiny.

Iran is portrayed as a positive regional force amidst assassinations of national figures and a looming election.

The Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) is back on the table after the U.S. withdrawal under President Trump.

Dr. Abbasi, a scientist who survived an assassination attempt, shares his experience and fears for his life.

Iran's influence in Iraq is highlighted through its oldest proxy force, the Badr Brigade.

The documentary crew's encounter with an alleged ISIS fighter reveals Iran's narrative of combating terrorism.

Hussein Amir Abdullahian, known as Mr. Shadow, discusses the potential for Iran and the U.S. to cooperate against ISIS.

The documentary explores the unintended consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq and Iran's growing influence.

General Qasim Suleimani's assassination and its impact on Iran-U.S. relations are examined.

The crew visits the site of General Suleimani's drone strike, now a memorial, and discusses the implications.

Muhammad Ali Khabib discusses the role of Iranian militias in Iraq and their connection to Iran's foreign policy.

Hadi al-Amiri, leader of the Badr Brigade, shares his views on U.S. actions in Iraq and the fight against ISIS.

The documentary raises questions about the future of Iranian-backed militias and their role after the defeat of ISIS.

The crew's experience at the Iran-Iraq border crossing highlights the tense relationship between the two countries.

The documentary concludes with reflections on the ongoing shadow wars in the Middle East and the U.S.'s waning influence.

Transcripts
00:25

[Music]

00:32

iran's defense ministry has confirmed

00:34

that one of the country's top nuclear

00:36

scientists has been assassinated

00:40

has long been suspected by the west and

00:43

israel of masterminding a secret nuclear

00:46

weapons program

00:47

he was ambushed with a remote controlled

00:50

machine gun mounted on a car that later

00:52

blew up

00:53

according to iranian media reports

01:02

[Music]

01:10

[Music]

01:27

in march this year we got visas for the

01:29

most enigmatic country in the middle

01:31

east

01:31

iran it had been an insane and tragic 18

01:35

months since i was last there

01:38

a country that was already on edge after

01:40

a passenger jet had been shot down over

01:42

the capital city

01:43

had been engulfed by one of the world's

01:45

worst covet outbreaks

01:47

and ever tightening sanctions which only

01:49

seemed to make everyday life

01:51

more and more difficult add to that the

01:54

assassinations of major national figures

01:56

and a looming election that could upend

01:58

the country's politics

02:00

and it's been a strange and traumatic

02:01

time

02:05

the timing of our invitation was telling

02:07

with the new president in the white

02:09

house

02:09

our government contacts seemed to have a

02:11

very specific message to send

02:13

giving us unprecedented access we

02:16

started at the mosque where most

02:18

infocrisabe is buried

02:20

we were there to meet with said khashogg

02:22

a pro-government analyst with strong

02:24

views about foreign interference

02:27

how important was dr fakhrisa day to the

02:30

iran nuclear program

02:32

he was a key scientist and the

02:35

iranians may not forget his

02:37

assassination and who do you think was

02:39

responsible for

02:40

israel for sure but iranians also

02:42

believe that

02:43

israel had the go-ahead and the green

02:46

light from the united states

02:47

to do such a thing that could trigger

02:49

war

02:53

what is the kind of appropriate response

02:56

or retaliation

02:57

for the assassination of someone as

02:59

important as dr favreza

03:01

i do believe that it would be happening

03:04

on a target inside israel because

03:07

they meant to inflict the strategic

03:10

loss on iran so whatever they do

03:14

should be of the strategic importance

03:16

but we don't know when what time and how

03:18

first

03:22

our conversation with khosh kesem kicked

03:24

off the toughest shoot i've done of many

03:26

in iran

03:27

at a time of extreme tension in the

03:29

middle east and with the iran nuclear

03:31

deal known as the jcpoa back on the

03:33

table

03:34

after being exited by president trump

03:36

our government contacts

03:38

in a multitude of iranian intelligence

03:40

agencies who tracked our every move

03:42

wanted us to portray the country as a

03:44

positive force in the region

03:46

while america and its ally israel were

03:48

killing scientists

03:49

iran and its unofficial militias were

03:52

busy fighting terrorists

03:54

stabilizing their neighbor iraq and

03:56

generally being the good guys in a bad

03:58

neighborhood

03:59

reality was a lot more complicated from

04:02

iranian-backed militias

04:04

to a guy in baghdad with pet flamingos

04:07

by a holding cell on the irani rock

04:09

border

04:10

the trip ended up shedding light on a

04:12

sprawling shadow war between america and

04:14

iran

04:14

for control of the middle east a war

04:17

which iran seems to be wedding

04:27

[Music]

04:32

we're at the national defense museum

04:34

which was set up by the

04:36

revolutionary guard a lot of this museum

04:39

focuses on the eight-year iran-iraq war

04:42

and speaks to the imperialist tyranny

04:46

and injustices of the west

04:49

i don't know what this is exactly

04:55

bunker office i like the bottle of booze

04:58

this is a saddam's little bunker

05:04

since 2010 the nuclear scientist

05:08

community

05:09

in this country has had targets on their

05:12

back

05:13

and have gone through a lot of

05:15

assassination attempts

05:16

many of them successful most recently

05:20

it was dr fakrisade there's one

05:23

scientist

05:24

who survived the assassination attempt

05:27

dr abbasi and he's coming here to meet

05:30

with us today

05:31

and we're going to look at the car that

05:32

he was in just before it exploded

05:37

this place is pretty epic first time

05:40

first time

05:41

really we are always in

05:45

work yeah

05:48

so this was the car that you were

05:52

driving

06:26

how does it make you feel today when you

06:28

see the car

06:30

for the first time after the attempted

06:32

assassination

06:42

sir that was not the response i was

06:44

expecting

06:46

that you would

06:52

[Music]

06:58

who do you think is responsible for

07:36

what is the main goal for wiping out

07:39

the top nuclear scientists in this

07:42

country

08:10

this was the first time he'd spoken to

08:12

foreign media and after we stopped

08:14

shooting

08:14

he actually told us he was scared for

08:16

his life while speaking to us out in

08:18

public

08:20

clearly this is not traditional warfare

08:22

but it's still one that's fought on all

08:24

fronts

08:26

[Music]

08:37

[Music]

08:38

oh

08:43

a movie director famous for his

08:45

patriotic depictions

08:46

of iranian militarism

09:02

[Music]

09:06

foreign

09:34

is

09:56

a legendary iranian general and

09:58

spymaster who before his assassination

10:01

under orders from president trump in

10:03

2020 orchestrated a vast rollout

10:06

of iranian hard and soft power across

10:09

the middle east

10:29

[Music]

10:30

foreign

10:33

when i walked in here today i thought i

10:35

was going to meet somebody who was

10:36

making government propaganda

10:44

so

10:56

if you had to place your films in a

10:59

genre

11:00

what genre would it be

11:02

[Music]

11:33

after this visit things started to get

11:35

more serious

11:36

we were driven to meet with an alleged

11:38

isis fighter who'd been captured by one

11:40

of silimani's militias

11:43

this was set to be the first time an

11:45

american crew had met an isis fighter

11:47

captured by iran

11:51

so we are in a hotel in an

11:54

undisclosed location in tehran uh

11:58

awaiting the arrival of two isis

12:01

prisoners

12:02

um who've been sentenced for execution

12:06

and they're being transported here um

12:10

they'd be

12:16

sure it's probably not good

12:23

the trouble was the agencies in charge

12:25

of following us

12:26

at least six according to our government

12:27

contacts couldn't always agree on what

12:29

we were allowed to film

12:49

all right guys it's a wrap there's a

12:52

problem with the transfer from the

12:54

prison we have no other details we're

12:57

going to try again tomorrow

12:59

we had some snacks for our special

13:01

guests

13:03

because we have no idea when they're

13:04

getting executed but we thought they

13:06

might light some cake

13:08

give them some tasty snacks

13:30

so it's the next day and the ministries

13:32

worked it out

13:34

and were able to transport an isis

13:36

prisoner to this

13:37

undisclosed location today we're told

13:40

that he was

13:41

trained to be a suicide bomber and

13:44

trained in syria and then came back into

13:46

iran and got caught

14:02

did you come here to speak with us on

14:04

your own free will

14:07

are you a member of isis

14:08

[Music]

14:28

[Music]

14:35

[Music]

14:38

did you have specific targets that you

14:40

were supposed to hit

14:42

we have two parity calibur

14:50

[Music]

14:53

and how big was isis's fight against

14:56

iran

15:10

foreign

15:20

[Music]

15:33

we couldn't verify the prisoner's story

15:34

independently and he was accompanied by

15:36

guards

15:37

but it was clear he had his talking

15:39

points he was furthering a narrative

15:41

about how hard iran is working to defeat

15:43

a terror group which the u.s

15:45

seems to have forgotten about that

15:47

narrative came from the top as well as

15:49

the bottom

15:50

hussein amir abdullahim known as mr

15:53

shadow

15:54

was described to us as sulimani's

15:56

right-hand man

15:57

an operative running the general's own

15:59

personal foreign policy

16:01

[Music]

16:18

do you think the fight against isis

16:21

could bring

16:22

iran and the united states closer

16:25

together

16:29

[Music]

16:53

we cannot allow isis to reopen and

16:56

regroup

16:57

and threaten people in the middle east

17:00

and europe and the united states and

17:01

elsewhere

17:02

america

17:14

what does the us need to do to get the

17:17

iranians

17:19

to agree to start discussions again for

17:21

the jcpoa

17:28

[Music]

17:40

[Music]

17:56

[Music]

18:12

foreign

18:13

[Music]

18:19

in the u.s iran's behavior has been

18:22

described as imperialism

18:24

but we heard time and again from the

18:25

iranians that they were simply reacting

18:27

to conflict across their border

18:30

either way their influence has grown

18:33

exponentially

18:34

it was time to go see for ourselves

18:38

we got in our crew vet and headed for

18:40

the iraqi border

18:49

so we are about 10 and a half hours

18:52

outside of tehran we've been driving all

18:54

night we're going to the

18:56

mehran border crossing into iraq

19:00

the the borders right now are closed up

19:02

here

19:03

uh due to cobin but they're being

19:05

especially open for us

19:07

so we can get across and connect with

19:10

the badder brigade

19:12

the plan was to meet up with the bother

19:14

brigade iran's oldest proxy drock

19:17

and perhaps the most powerful of

19:18

silimani's militias

19:20

since the u.s toppled saddam hussein's

19:22

regime in iraq

19:23

the bada brigade has served as iran's

19:25

enforcers in the country

19:26

and today are as famous for fighting

19:28

isis as for their brutal treatment of

19:30

anyone who crosses them

19:33

we are getting very close to the iran

19:35

iraq border

19:36

and we kind of don't know what's

19:38

happening hopefully the

19:40

father brigades are there and anxiously

19:43

awaiting our arrival and

19:44

that the iranians let us exit smoothly

19:47

um

19:50

we're hoping for the best

19:56

[Music]

20:25

yeah we're rolling

20:26

[Music]

20:28

so successful exit from iran

20:32

not uh a successful entry into iraq

20:36

we're kind of stuck in this 15 by 30

20:39

holding cell just waiting and no one

20:42

knows anything about anything

20:44

including us good times

20:48

[Music]

20:55

how you feeling now huh are you really

20:58

doing this

21:04

it's been six more than six hours now

21:08

that's a bummer oh and he's unlocking

21:10

the door

21:12

he's letting these guys through i

21:14

thought he was gonna

21:15

be giving us our freedom sun is going

21:18

down

21:19

they just turned the lights off in here

21:21

this doesn't bode well

21:23

everybody's gone radio silent are all

21:25

our people that's fun

21:30

[Music]

21:36

we can put the blame on the iraqi party

21:38

right now because

21:39

some iraqi parties are interfering with

21:41

the irishman's

21:43

are you saying that since we got

21:46

the message that intelligence

21:50

and interior ministry spoke about it for

21:53

four

21:53

for hours this afternoon but it's

21:55

resolved now since then they've

21:58

continued to interfere so the iraqis

22:02

who don't like the the

22:05

iran's kind of influence and power

22:11

in their country are the ones who are

22:13

meddling that's what he's saying right

22:22

so after spending

22:25

i think close to eight hours and that

22:30

weird holding cell in no man's land

22:33

between the

22:34

iran and iraq borders we finally

22:37

[Music]

22:39

we're let in

22:40

[Music]

22:47

[Music]

22:50

over 24 hours later we finally made it

22:54

i was really worried about exiting iran

22:57

that was my big fear

22:58

because we'd been tracked and monitored

23:00

by

23:01

you know six different agencies within

23:03

the government three of them

23:05

intelligence units i'm really happy

23:08

we're going to be sleeping

23:09

in a hotel never been so happy to be in

23:16

[Music]

23:20

baghdad

23:25

[Music]

23:32

in death suleimani who was designated a

23:35

terrorist by the us

23:37

looms large over iraq this country was

23:40

the crown jewel in his life's work

23:42

to spread iranian influence from the

23:44

mediterranean sea

23:45

to yemen in the south and through syria

23:48

and iraq

23:49

fighting off groups like isis and

23:51

seizing the initiative

23:52

as u.s influence in the region waned

23:55

last night at my direction

23:57

the united states military successfully

24:00

executed a flawless precision strike

24:02

that killed the number one

24:05

terrorist anywhere in the world kasim

24:08

salamani the pentagon claims that by his

24:11

militias

24:12

suleimani was responsible for more than

24:14

600 u.s deaths in iraq

24:18

this is all just the latest chapter in

24:20

u.s iranian relations

24:21

that have been fraught since the 1950s

24:24

and the cia orchestrated a coup in iran

24:27

against the democratically elected

24:28

leader in 1979

24:30

when the iranian revolution saw u.s

24:33

diplomats taken hostage

24:36

[Music]

24:39

so we are on the way to baghdad

24:41

international airport

24:43

to take a look at the assassination site

24:46

where trump ordered the drone strike on

24:49

general qasim suleimani

24:51

and abu mahdi albuhondas

24:54

there he is there's mohandas they

24:57

renamed the street after him

25:07

so one of the cars i think was attacked

25:10

here because you can see on the blast

25:11

wall

25:12

and then down there there's another the

25:14

rest of the wall where there also has

25:15

that kind of damage

25:16

on it

25:17

[Music]

25:20

so this is the memorial that they built

25:22

uh after the assassination

25:24

took place the paris got completely

25:27

mangled it's like they've been inverted

25:31

solimani was the second most powerful

25:34

man in iran after the supreme leader

25:37

mahondes here was revered

25:41

and the two of them together they were

25:43

the most

25:44

effective deterrents on the ground in

25:46

the fight against isis

25:50

[Applause]

25:52

so everybody in the iranian rock are

25:54

asking like well why did the us take

25:56

them out

25:57

is it messed up or was it super

25:59

intentional and they knew what the

26:00

consequences of it were gonna be because

26:01

it inflamed the tensions with iran

26:04

and it pissed everyone in iraq

26:06

[Music]

26:08

and from a foreign policy perspective

26:10

almost lead to all-out war

26:17

a few minutes after we arrived this guy

26:20

showed up

26:21

we're pretty sure this wasn't a chance

26:22

encounter

26:25

can you tell me why you came here

26:28

we saw you walking up and

26:32

looking very emotional as you were

26:34

walking up

26:43

[Applause]

26:50

can

27:04

foreign

27:07

[Music]

27:17

and did you know

27:25

[Music]

27:32

foreign

27:39

[Music]

27:47

if that meeting was orchestrated by

27:49

unseen iranian forces

27:51

our next interviewee likely played a

27:53

part in it

27:54

muhammad ali khabib oversees all media

27:56

and communications

27:57

for all iranian militias known as

28:00

hashida al-shabi

28:01

in iraq we paid him a visit at home

28:08

welcome thank you thank you for inviting

28:10

us into your home

28:16

this is amazing

28:37

[Music]

28:49

[Music]

28:57

ten years now can i open this

29:01

backwards let's finish the documentary

29:03

with this

29:05

[Music]

29:08

i really like your flamingos

29:15

why would you eat a flamingo

29:17

[Laughter]

29:20

this is totally unacceptable it's a

29:23

beautiful bird

29:39

what was your relationship with general

29:42

qasim solomoni

29:43

and abu madi o mohandas

29:48

it's a big question

30:06

[Music]

30:10

what is the kind of goal and purpose

30:14

of hashin al-shabi and what

30:17

their assassinations how that will

30:19

affect these groups

30:34

foreign

31:02

foreign

31:05

how closely linked is iran to the

31:08

hashido

31:08

shabby groups

31:30

foreign why do you think america

31:33

designated general soleimani and

31:37

abu mahdi as terrorists

31:44

enrique

31:58

foreign

32:02

next up was a meeting with hadi al-amiri

32:04

feared leader of the bother brigade

32:06

and now of all iranian militias in iraq

32:10

he once visited president obama at the

32:12

white house despite having been accused

32:14

by a u.s diplomat

32:16

of using power drills to pierce the

32:18

skulls of his enemies

32:20

and he has quite the origin story

32:23

your story is really fascinating to me

32:26

you were born in iraq

32:28

you moved to iran you fought in the

32:30

iran-iraq war

32:32

against iraq and the saddam regime

32:36

and then you started the bother brigades

32:38

while you were in iran

32:40

when we talk about iranian influence in

32:42

iraq does it start with you

32:54

and

33:09

and was it general suleimani who helped

33:13

put it all together was he kind of the

33:16

architect

33:17

of what the iraqi government looks like

33:19

today

33:34

why do you think the us killed the two

33:36

most powerful leaders

33:38

here in the fight against isis

33:49

the us said that there was an imminent

33:52

threat against them and that's

33:54

why they sent the drone and

33:57

and the missiles that that led to the

34:00

the death of these two

34:03

accounts you

34:17

so we we think of isis as having been

34:20

defeated you know that's that's what the

34:23

the news reports told us in america

34:25

but what level is their their threat

34:28

here today

34:33

mr

34:46

[Music]

34:51

we are driving through ashraf the main

34:54

base for

34:55

uh hashtal shabi shared by

34:58

you know the 50 plus groups in the

35:00

country

35:01

it's essentially they're kind of the

35:03

base for the resistance

35:05

to fight against isis and it's

35:08

absolutely massive

35:10

we don't know the specifics but if iran

35:11

is backing all of these groups they're

35:14

funneling a shitload of cash this place

35:19

[Music]

35:25

and does this gun it can it can rotate

35:28

all the way around right

35:29

you've got your hip and how far does it

35:32

shoot it's pretty huge

35:33

so that kid what wow that's far

35:48

do you feel like your soldiers are um

35:51

equipped enough

35:52

in their battles against isis

35:59

you must need a lot of weapons for the

36:02

battles that hostile shabby has been

36:03

fighting

36:04

where did the supplies come from

36:13

[Music]

36:16

how close has isis been getting to this

36:18

position

36:53

our ice is still coming here on a

36:55

regular basis are you still catching

36:56

them

37:19

so we are in tahrir square in baghdad

37:22

the green zone is

37:23

behind me over there yeah i've been here

37:25

four times since 2006 and every time i

37:28

come the u.s presence in this country

37:29

diminishes

37:30

and today there are 2 500 u.s troops in

37:34

this country which is

37:35

next to nothing compared to how it used

37:37

to be meanwhile there are a hundred and

37:38

thirty thousand

37:39

hosh del shabby soldiers out in the

37:42

field fighting isis right now

37:44

and that number is growing

37:52

the question i'm wondering right now is

37:54

what happens to the hundred and thirty

37:56

thousand hashtag

37:57

soldiers that are currently out in the

37:59

field fighting isis when that war ends

38:01

i mean this is ideological and their

38:04

power and influence is only growing

38:09

[Applause]

38:16

america

38:18

[Music]

38:31

[Music]

38:40

[Music]

38:52

in june 2021 an election in iran may see

38:55

an even more hard-line president in the

38:57

iranian capital

38:59

with the us now increasingly disengaged

39:01

from the middle east

39:02

and no sign of iran and its proxies

39:05

going anywhere

39:06

it looks a lot like u.s taxpayers have

39:08

spent trillions of dollars

39:10

in countless lives only the hand control

39:13

of the world's most volatile region

39:15

to their adversaries in tehran

39:19

these are the unintended consequences of

39:21

the us invasion of iraq

39:23

the country has become a de facto

39:25

commonwealth state of iran shadow wars

39:28

continue to rage

39:30

and we're not even close to a resolution

39:46

[Music]

39:54

[Music]

40:11

you

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