Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be making a trip to Iraq on Sunday, at the invitation of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Although formerly rivals, the governments of Iran and Iraq have put aside some of their differences in recent years. The US occupation has diminished the formerly powerful Sunni majority, leaving Shiites to gain a larger proportion of power.
Ahmadinejad’s trip is likely to be a dangerous one, as elements of the Sunni resistance are still very active in the country, and his convoy’s movement is likely to require at least some cooperation from US forces. Iran’s backing of Shiite militias in Iraq may spur a backlash resulting in attempts against the Iranian leader.
Visiting dignitaries usually head straight from Baghdad airport to the fortified Green Zone - in an American helicopter.
The BBC understands that the Iranian president will not be offered this facility.
Nor would he be likely to accept a ride from the Great Satan, as the US is often described in Iran.
So he will have to go by car - along the seven-kilometre airport road into the city.
Traffic on this road has often been ambushed and attacked - and along much of its length there is only a light fence.
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