"The Iranians are afraid that the U.S. will use this agreement along with the Iranian nuclear issue to hit their country or at least to tighten international sanctions against it, so Ahmadinejad is coming to meet Iraq's Shiite-dominated government only to deal in advance so that any future agreement between Iraq and U.S. will not be on the account of his country," he explained.

On the other hand, as Salam al-Shama'a, a senior Iraqi journalist, believed, Ahmadinejad comes to Iraq to prevent a showdown between rival Shiites.

Through the visit, Iran would try to end the long-term dispute between the Sadr political movement headed by radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) headed by Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, Shama'a said.

The two parties have been vying for control in Iraq's oil-rich south.

However, "Iran considers this fight between them is weakening and breaking up its influence and plans in Iraq," Shama'a said.

It is obvious that Iran wants to back the governance of the two main Shiite parties -- Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Dawa party and the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) -- both resorted to Iran's help during Saddam Hussein's regime.

A stable Shiite-led control in Iraq will make it easier for Iran to keep its long-standing stay here, analyst Haj believed.

"Logically, a stable Iraq will help the two Shiite parties to hold power. And as long as the Shiites are in control, Iraq will have a closer relationship with Iran," al-Haj said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2008)