The orientalist stated the urgency of the threat of escalation of conflicts in Iraq

The possibility of the threat of escalation of conflicts in Iraq remains relevant, despite the agreements reached earlier. Sergei Balmasov, an expert at the Middle East Institute and an expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, said this in an interview with Izvestia on June 23, commenting on the intention of Iran's allies to attack American bases in the country.

He also pointed to the complex system of agreements between the official Iraqi authorities and pro-Iranian formations. The expert recalled that the Americans tried to prevent the recurrence of incidents with strikes, including drones and missiles from Iraqi groups, and for this they ensured their integration into the Iraqi security forces.

"If this happens, in general, all these complex structures may collapse and, in general, a certain unpleasant situation may arise for the United States itself in Iraq," Balmasov said.

In addition, in the event of attacks by Iraqi Shiites, agreements on their integration into the government and security structures of Iraq may be disrupted, which may affect the internal stability of Baghdad itself.

As for the situation in Syria, Balmasov noted that there is great uncertainty here. After the change of power in Syria, the opportunities for Shiite groups to maneuver have significantly decreased.

"And the forces that stand behind [Ahmed Hussein] al-Sharaa, the new president of Syria, they will try to prevent this, taking into account the interests of local Syrian Shiites," the political scientist said.

He also stressed that Iran will strive to protect its interests and implement its threats against American forces on a limited scale. However, Tehran is not interested in a full-scale conflict with the United States, as this may lead to an increase in their involvement in the confrontation with Iran.

"The more American military personnel suffer, the more the United States will be involved in the fight against Iran. It is not profitable for them now and they absolutely do not need it," the orientalist concluded.

Rocket Sequel: how and when can Iran respond to US strikes

After the attack on nuclear facilities, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic is preparing for a meeting with the President of the Russian Federation

On June 22, The New York Times (NYT) reported that Iranian-backed militia groups were preparing to attack US military bases in Syria and Iraq in response to the US military joining Israeli strikes. Currently, the Iraqi authorities are trying to convince them to refrain from retaliatory actions.

On June 21, American leader Donald Trump announced that the US Armed Forces had attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities. On the same day, he threatened Tehran with new missile strikes if the conflict was not resolved.