Based on a Miqrab AI analysis of 522 X \/ Twitter posts trending in Iraq on February 21, 2025, the social media landscape was dominated by discussions of Iraq’s perceived diplomatic isolation and internal political fractures. A primary narrative centered on Iraq’s exclusion from a meeting of key Arab leaders, which users attributed to the current government’s alignment with Iran and its resulting marginalization in the Arab world. This theme was contrasted with deep domestic divisions over the official mourning for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, with some celebrating him as a martyr while others condemned the government for prioritizing a foreign figure over national needs. Other prominent topics included reports of renewed US pressure on Baghdad to sever ties with Iran and resume Kurdish oil exports, revelations about Saddam Hussein’s family from a newly discussed memoir, and controversy surrounding the new Syrian government and its engagement with Iraq.<\/p>\n
A major narrative revolves around Iraq’s absence from a meeting of Arab leaders in Riyadh, which included Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Accounts like Omar Abd Al Sattar Mahmud<\/a> (Post Impact: 100%)<\/strong> and Mustafa Al-Dulaimi<\/a> (Post Impact: 80%)<\/strong> shared an image of the meeting with captions like “The absent one fails”<\/em> and questioned the reason for this “failure and belittlement of Iraq.” Dr. Qusay Shafiq<\/a> (Post Impact: 23%)<\/strong> blamed “the neighbor [Iran] and the leaders of this wretched time” for Iraq’s marginalization, lamenting that a country that was once the “axis of the Arabs” is now on the sidelines. Ameer aldaami<\/a> (Post Impact: 15%)<\/strong> interpreted the exclusion as a clear message that Iraq’s decisions are not its own and that it is seen as a follower of external powers.<\/p>\n The death of Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has sparked significant activity and division. Pro-resistance accounts announced that Iraqis were traveling to Lebanon for the funeral. Wasan Al-Shaikhli<\/a> (Post Impact: 36%)<\/strong> and Haider<\/a> (Post Impact: 10%)<\/strong> shared videos of Iraqi mourners at the site of his death in Beirut. Issam Hussein<\/a> (Post Impact: 15%)<\/strong> thanked the Baghdad Provincial Council for declaring Sunday a holiday for the funeral. Conversely, critics condemned these actions. Mahdi Majeed<\/a> (Post Impact: 15%)<\/strong> called it a “catastrophe” and claimed that $5 million was allocated for mourning ceremonies while the finance minister had previously stated there were no funds for employee salaries. Ghaith Al-Tamimi<\/a> (Post Impact: 12%)<\/strong> mocked Nasrallah’s legacy, stating that after decades of threatening to remove Israel, his son’s greatest threat is now a “grand funeral.”<\/em><\/p>\n A recurring topic is renewed pressure from the United States on the Iraqi government. Several accounts cited a Reuters report detailing demands from the Trump administration. Omar Abd Al Sattar Mahmud<\/a> (Post Impact: 11%)<\/strong> shared the news that “Trump wants Al-Sudani to cut economic and military ties with Iran.”<\/em> Another post from Omar Abd Al Sattar Mahmud<\/a> (Post Impact: 4%)<\/strong>, also citing Reuters, stated that Washington has demanded Iraq resume Kurdish oil exports or face sanctions. Sufian Al-Samarrai<\/a> (Post Impact: 7%)<\/strong> commented on this development, saying, “Trump to the Iraqi government: Allow the Kurds to export oil immediately.”<\/em> Haider<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%)<\/strong> noted that the Al-Sudani government has decided to resume oil exports in response to the threat of sanctions.<\/p>\n A detailed summary of a book, likely the memoirs of Barzan al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein’s half-brother, has garnered significant attention. The post by Muna Sami<\/a> (Post Impact: 20%)<\/strong> outlines numerous revelations, including Barzan’s dislike for Saddam’s wife Sajida, his belief that Hussein Kamel killed Adnan Khairallah, and internal family conflicts. The summary also notes that the Iraqi intelligence did produce chemical weapons, that Barzan respected Hezbollah but saw Yasser Arafat as an opportunist, and that he believed Saddam’s regime had “corrupted the morals and integrity of the people.”<\/em> This single post provided a deep dive into the personal dynamics and political views within the former ruling family.<\/p>\n A planned visit to Baghdad by Abu Aisha Al-Shibani, described as the foreign affairs official for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria, has become a contentious issue. The visit was reportedly at the invitation of the Al-Sudani government. Haider<\/a> (Post Impact: 11%)<\/strong> first announced the visit, but later posted that it had been cancelled for “unknown reasons” (Haider<\/a> (Post Impact: 12%)<\/strong>). The invitation drew sharp criticism, with Mahdi Majeed<\/a> (Post Impact: 9%)<\/strong> addressing Popular Mobilization Forces fighters, reminding them they were sent to Syria to fight this very group and accusing their leaders of deception. Omar Al-Janabi<\/a> (Post Impact: 3%)<\/strong> also noted the repeated postponement of the visit by the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, due to security reasons, suggesting possible confusion over the details of the visit.<\/p>\n Politician Mashaan Al-Jubouri<\/a> (Post Impact: 16%)<\/strong> issued a stark warning about Iraq’s economy, calling the government’s decision to raise the value of the dinar a “populist and incorrect step”<\/em> that increased salary costs and depleted dollar reserves. He predicts Iraq is approaching a “suffocating financial crisis” due to declining oil prices and potential US financial restrictions. Al-Jubouri argues there is no way out except through immediate and drastic reforms, including restoring the previous exchange rate, reforming border crossings, improving tax and service bill collection, stopping financial corruption, and recovering stolen funds.<\/p>\n Leaders of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq marked International Mother Language Day by emphasizing the importance of the Kurdish language. KRG President Nechirvan Barzani<\/a> (Post Impact: 19%)<\/strong> stated, “Our language is our existence,”<\/em> and stressed the importance of promoting Kurdish and the languages of all components of Kurdistan as a cornerstone of national and cultural identity. Similarly, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani<\/a> (Post Impact: 6%)<\/strong> celebrated the day, noting that Kurdish is the official language of the Kurdistan Region and one of the two official languages of Iraq according to the constitution.<\/p>\n Tensions between different political and sectarian groups were evident in several high-engagement posts. Hiba Alnnaayib<\/a> (Post Impact: 18%)<\/strong> shared a photo of Iraqis welcoming US troops and criticized what she called “Bremer’s Shiites who came to rule on the back of an American tank,”<\/em> contrasting it with current accusations against others of being “sons of the embassy.” In a different vein, Issam Hussein<\/a> (Post Impact: 8%)<\/strong> directed a series of questions to “the Sunni brothers in Iraq,” asking why they do not commemorate Sunni victims of ISIS and questioning whether they view terrorist organizations as legitimate armed wings.<\/p>\n There is a notable interest in the political shifts in the United States, particularly the actions of Donald Trump, which are viewed through a global lens. Sufian Al-Samarrai<\/a> (Post Impact: 20%)<\/strong> praised Trump for having “changed the world in one month” and celebrated the official appointment of Kash Patel as FBI Director as “the first day in the confrontation with the deep state.” He concludes with the declaration, “It is the global right.”<\/em> This perspective frames US domestic politics as part of a larger, worldwide ideological struggle that resonates with certain audiences in Iraq.<\/p>\n2. Mourning and Division Over Hassan Nasrallah’s Death<\/h2>\n
3. US Pressure on Iraq Regarding Iran and Kurdish Oil<\/h2>\n
4. Memoirs Reveal Saddam Hussein Family Secrets<\/h2>\n
5. Controversy Over Syrian Opposition Figure’s Visit<\/h2>\n
6. Mashaan Al-Jubouri’s Economic Warning<\/h2>\n
7. Kurdish Leaders on International Mother Language Day<\/h2>\n
8. Sectarian Accusations and Political Recriminations<\/h2>\n
9. U.S. Politics and the Rise of the “Global Right”<\/h2>\n
10. Threats Against Syrian President Raise Security Concerns<\/h2>\n