The West’s push to rebuild its influence in the Middle East’s geographical and geopolitical heartland of Mesopotamia entered a new phase in recent months, with many major U.S. and European oil and gas majors returning to Iraq after a long hiatus. The key aim is to break the longstanding link between it and Iran, which has long held sway over its neighbour through its multiple political, economic, and military proxies. By doing this, the West hopes to tilt the balance of influence across the region back towards it and away from China…