Azerbaijan, Baku, July 17 / Trend U. Sadikhova /
The U.S. is ready to use its leverage to accelerate the process of forming a new Iraqi government to resolve the political vacuum and prevent the civil war, experts said.
"The U.S has many stakes in Iraq. Although they are committed to leave Iraq by end of next year but they still are aware that they shouldn't leave vacuum to be used by Iranian particular," Iraq foundation for development and democracy head Ghassan Attiyah told Trend over phone.
Formation of a new staff of the Iraqi government's cabinet was the main topic of the talks between Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and the U.S. administration in Washington this week.
Iraqi minister urged the U.S. to intensify its efforts to establish a new government to establish stability and security in the country.
The first meeting of the Iraqi parliament with the election of a new speaker was to be held on Monday. But it was postponed because of the parties' discord. The head of the political bloc "Iraqiya" Iyad Allawi got the most seats. He has not been able to negotiate with his rival, acting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form a coalition government.
Washington fears that a lack of political stability amid daily attacks will result in a civil war between pro-Iranian and pro-Arab parties, especially after the Americans withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2011.
The U.S. role in the political process in Iraq remains strong and effective. It allows to accelerate the process of forming a new government, Khalil Azravi, political adviser to Vice President of Iraq Tariq al-Hashimi, also putting forward his candidacy for elections.
"The U.S. can put pressure on political parties, because they have a moral and physical responsibility for building democracy in Iraq," Azravi told Trend over phone.
Advisor to the Vice President thinks that Washington knows how it should act in this case.
"The U.S. realizes the importance of the role it plays in Iraq. So, it will decide for itself what steps should be taken [to form the government]," he said.
Zebari's talks were held in Washington a few weeks after U.S Vice-President Joe Biden visited Iraq with an unplanned visit. He met with the leaders of major political parties in Baghdad.
The U.S concern is explained by the presence of Iranian factor in the internal situation in Iraq, which has strong influence among the Shiite community.
"What we see now is the real rivalry between Iranian and some Arab states backed by United States," British analyst of Iranian origin Attiyah said.
He said that the United States expect a new wave of violence in the country by pro-Iranian groups. According to U.S. commanders, they receive military training in Iran.
"The Americans fear that the Iranians will fill the existing political vacuum, so the Americans will try to play a role in the formation of the future Iraqi government," expert said.
Attiyah said that the U.S. now is more inclined towards the Sunni parties, the largest of which is the party of al-Hashimi's "Renovation", because they are less sympathetic to Iran.
"And that is why they are interested in supporting them, although the Americans support Sunnis not direct but through some Arab countries. Without the support of Arab countries, the Arab Sunnis wouldn't be united in a block in Iraq," Attiyah said.
Analysts said that Washington will prefer Allawi's bloc among the Shiite politicians rather than a staunch opponent of Iranian interference in the political and religious processes in Iraq.
The current Prime Minister al-Maliki was repeatedly accused of excessive sympathy for Tehran.
In May, he was able to form a coalition with the Iraqi National Alliance, headed by the leader of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council Ammar al-Hakim, but did not get four seats for absolute majority.
United States Institute of Peace in Washington former high-ranking representative Amatzia Baram specializing in Iraqi politics thinks that the U.S. will not act openly in creating a new Iraqi government, as it fears of offending its opponents in the country
The problem is huge because the U.S finds it very difficult to apply more pressure. Nobody wants that the new Iraqi government in Iraq is an American creation.
"I m sure that America could do that, it could force the Iraqi to build new coalition but that will be very problematic as many will think that the new government is pro-American," professor in the Department of the History of the Middle East, Haifa university, Amatzia Baram, told Trend.
The U.S is trying to not get deeply involved, he said.
Baram said that the U.S. realizes the importance that the Prime Minister should be a Shiite. So, they will try to intervene through the channels of Shiite in Iraq.
The most ardent candidate for the U.S assistant among Shiite factions can become Ayatollah Ali Sistani. He is a spiritual leader, having great prestige among Shiites.
"The only man who can resolve the problem is Sistani because Maliki will listen to him, and Allawi as a shia will respect Sistani who aggress that he become a prime-minister," he said.