Iraq parliamentary election: Voters head to polls

Breakdown

• Iraq's election centers on the question of who decides the country's direction, amid ongoing influence from outside powers, especially Iran.
• Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani is balancing relations with Iran, the US, the Gulf, and Turkey, but is seen as isolated by all sides. 34s
• The Sadrists, a key Shia movement, are boycotting the vote, creating a vacuum and weakening turnout, though they retain street influence. 54s
• Regional changes have given Sunnis and Kurds greater confidence and leverage, increasing pressure on Shia blocs and complicating coalition building. 1m 14s
• Unless Iraq's next government can break the cycle of dependency and division, it will remain a government in balance, not in control. 2m 14s