In hidden underground facilities and closed military zones off-limits even to Iraqi authorities, Iran is quietly expanding its weapons empire deep inside Iraq.
This is no longer about shipments crossing borders. Iran has established integrated factories, experts under diplomatic cover, and advanced military technologies being developed and tested inside Iraq, all under the protection of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
From suicide drones to long-range Raad-1 missiles, these weapons are now being produced not only in Tehran but also in Jurf al-Sakhar, Al-Zafaraniya, Ain al-Tamr, and Al-Nahrawan—fueling conflicts in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.
The result: Iraq is increasingly blamed, becoming entangled in weapons trafficking networks and regional wars that do not serve its interests.