2026-02-09: Qais al-Khazali’s Political Visit to Iran
Based on Miqrab AI’s analysis of 441 X / Twitter posts trending on February 9, 2026, the primary narratives revolved around significant domestic political maneuvers and escalating regional tensions. The execution of former Ba’athist official Saadoun Sabri al-Qaisi for crimes committed during the previous regime was a major topic of discussion. Simultaneously, a high-profile visit by Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali to Iran fueled speculation about its impact on the formation of Iraq’s next government. Conversations were also dominated by the looming threat of a US-Iran military conflict and the global repercussions of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which directly led to the resignation of Norway’s ambassador to Iraq.
Table Of Content
- 1. Qais al-Khazali’s Political Visit to Iran
- 2. Execution of Ba’athist Official Saadoun al-Qaisi
- 3. Rising US-Iran Tensions and War Speculation
- 4. Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Unveils Global Connections
- 5. Nouri al-Maliki Affirms PM Candidacy Amid Threats
- 6. Iran’s Military Posturing and Threats Against Israel
- 7. Criticism of New Governor’s Conduct in Babylon
- 8. US Military Presence and Support for Iraqi Army
- 9. Kurdish Leadership’s Diplomatic and Cultural Activities
- 10. Iranian Official Admits “Mistakes” in Exporting Revolution
Today’s Top 10 X (Twitter) Trends in Iraq:
1. Qais al-Khazali’s Political Visit to Iran
The visit of Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, to Tehran was a top trending topic, highlighted by a post from Qais al-Khazali (Post Impact: 100%) himself. Accounts reported on his meetings with senior Iranian figures, including National Security Advisor Ali Larijani and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Commentators like Ahmad Althawaq (Post Impact: 10%) and Haydar (Post Impact: 4%) claimed the meetings yielded “positive results” that would soon be reflected in Iraq’s political landscape, particularly concerning the selection of the next prime minister and president, aiming to secure the country’s future and international standing.
2. Execution of Ba’athist Official Saadoun al-Qaisi
The execution of Saadoun Sabri al-Qaisi, a former Ba’athist regime official, generated significant online discussion. The National Security Service announced the execution, with accounts like Dr. Hussein Al-Safi (Post Impact: 17%) and Fadil Abu Ragheef (Post Impact: 15%) stating he was convicted for killing thousands of Iraqis, including the prominent cleric Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and his sister, Amina al-Sadr (Bint al-Huda). Haydar (Post Impact: 16%) reported that al-Qaisi was lured from a neighboring country to Erbil by Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq forces before his arrest. Wesam Aziz (Post Impact: 8%) credited both Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and the National Security Service for the successful operation to bring him to justice.
3. Rising US-Iran Tensions and War Speculation
Fears of a looming military confrontation between the US and Iran were a dominant theme. Dr. Zaid Abdulwahab Al-Adhami (Post Impact: 11%) shared a statement from Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who recounted a past warning from the US Secretary of State that “during the next few hours, anything could happen” regarding Iran. The situation appeared to intensify as multiple users, including Dr. Ali Al-Jabiri (Post Impact: 4%), reported that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had requested to expedite his meeting with US President Donald Trump to present updated intelligence. Adding to the tension, Raad Hashim (Post Impact: 6%) noted that President Trump had warned officials in Tehran of “very bad actions” if they attempted to restart their nuclear program.
4. Jeffrey Epstein Scandal Unveils Global Connections
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal garnered significant attention, with users anticipating major revelations. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 50%) described it as “the biggest scandal in America in decades,” noting that a US congressional session would publicly discuss three million unredacted documents, with Bill and Hillary Clinton set to attend. The scandal’s international reach was highlighted by Haydar (Post Impact: 4%), who reported that Norway’s ambassador to Iraq and Jordan, Mona Juul, resigned after an investigation was opened into her links with Epstein, whose will reportedly allocated $10 million to her. Abu Darndish Alaskari (Post Impact: 11%) also commented that the scandalous details were beginning to be publicly exposed.
5. Nouri al-Maliki Affirms PM Candidacy Amid Threats
The potential candidacy of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was a prominent topic, with multiple accounts reporting on his defiance in the face of alleged American threats. Both Abbas Al-Ardawi (Post Impact: 12%) and Ali Fadlallah (Post Impact: 11%) quoted al-Maliki’s defiant stance: “I have not, will not, and will never withdraw.” They stated he vowed to see the nomination through to the end to protect Iraq’s sovereignty and implement the national will. This sentiment was echoed by a Badr Organization deputy, quoted by Haydar (Post Impact: 7%), who dismissed concerns about sanctions, stating they were prepared to go “to hell” because “dignity is more important than anything.”
6. Iran’s Military Posturing and Threats Against Israel
Accounts on X circulated reports of Iran’s increasingly aggressive military rhetoric and posturing. Najah Muhammad Ali (Post Impact: 25%) sarcastically announced that Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff had agreed to send its stockpile of heavy ballistic missiles to Israel and US bases “in a special way and faster than the speed of sound.” In a more critical tone, Aayad Al Twfan (Post Impact: 11%) condemned the Iranian leadership for what he called “madness and irrationality” after they allegedly displayed a giant sign in Tehran’s Palestine Square showing a map of potential missile targets in Tel Aviv. He suggested this public display was a sign of “fear, panic, and anxiety” intended to intimidate its adversaries.
7. Criticism of New Governor’s Conduct in Babylon
The newly appointed governor of Babylon, Ali Turki, faced sharp criticism online for his behavior. Mujahid Al-Ta’ee (Post Impact: 9%) posted a video of the governor berating a company director and commented that Iraqi officials mistakenly believe such public displays are a “significant achievement.” Salam Al-Husseini (Post Impact: 7%) referred to the video as a summary of “the story of Babylon in the hands of Asa’ib,” asserting that Turki was installed as part of a political quota for Sheikh Qais al-Khazali and lacks any administrative qualifications, a behavior he claims will lead to failure and public resentment.
8. US Military Presence and Support for Iraqi Army
Discussions around the US military’s role in Iraq and the wider region continued. Aayad Al Twfan (Post Impact: 13%) highlighted a Reuters report stating that the United States has deployed more forces to the Middle East than it did during the first and second Gulf Wars combined. On a different note, Haydar (Post Impact: 7%) reported that the US Department of War had approved a $12 million contract to provide logistical support and maintenance for Iraq’s fleet of Abrams tanks. The work is slated to take place at Camp Taji and be completed by the end of the year.
9. Kurdish Leadership’s Diplomatic and Cultural Activities
Leaders of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq were active on the platform, focusing on international relations and cultural heritage. Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (Post Impact: 46%) posted a message warmly congratulating Dilan Yeşilgöz on becoming the Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the Netherlands, reaffirming the strong relationship and looking forward to continued cooperation. In a more somber post, President of the Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani (Post Impact: 30%) expressed his condolences on the passing of esteemed Kurdish writer, researcher, and patriot Mehmet Emin Bozarslan, praising his great role in preserving and developing the Kurdish language and literature.
10. Iranian Official Admits “Mistakes” in Exporting Revolution
A statement by an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei admitting to past policy failures drew significant commentary. Shaho Al-Qaradaghi (Post Impact: 9%) shared quotes from the advisor stating, “The Islamic revolution cannot be exported to the Iraqi people and imposed by force,” and acknowledging that since the revolution’s beginning, “we made mistakes that made some neighbors afraid and worried about us.” Commenting on the news, Iyad Al-Dulaimi (Post Impact: 5%) argued that this admission “should not pass without notice” and necessitates a comprehensive review of the Iranian regime’s actions and the destructive impact of its “exporting the revolution” policy across the region since 1979.




