Iraqi armed faction calls on Baghdad to reject what it describes as an 'unjust siege' on Iran

The secretary-general of Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, an Iraqi armed group aligned with Iran, has called on Iraq's government and parliament to reject what he described as an "unjust siege" on Iran, according to Iran's Mehr News agency.

In the statement, the group's leader urged Iraqi authorities not to submit to what he characterized as the "will" of the United States, framing the appeal as a matter of regional solidarity with Tehran.

Context of Iran-aligned factions in Iraq

Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada is one of several Iran-aligned armed factions operating in Iraq, many of which emerged from groups that fought against the Islamic State and have since maintained significant political and military influence, including representation in Iraq's parliament through affiliated political blocs.

The characterization of pressure on Iran as a "siege" reflects the group's own framing and was reported through Iranian state-affiliated media; it has not been independently corroborated as an official diplomatic term used by Iraqi authorities themselves.

Iraq has sought to balance its relationships with both the United States and Iran, both of which maintain significant influence over Iraqi politics, security and economic affairs, and Baghdad has periodically faced pressure from Washington over the activities of Iran-aligned militias operating on Iraqi soil.

There was no immediate response from the Iraqi government or parliament to the specific appeal reported by Mehr News.