Hakim: Iran is not interfering in Iraq

Mehran Riazaty: Iran Analyst

Today, Far news agency reported that the head of Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), Abdul Aziz Hakim said that Iran isn't interfering in internal Iraqi affairs as some US officials have contended. He said the American officials always accuse Iran of such things, and we were always asking for evidence, but nobody came with evidence.

Analyst Comment: Why it is hard for US to find any direct evidence on Iran’s interference in Iraq? There have been always close connection between the Iraqi and Iranian people for hundred years. Families are mixed; some families who are in Iraq are of Iranian origin. Therefore, some of the activities that are going on in Iraq by Iraqi people (Badr Corps members) are indirectly orchestrate by Iranian authorities through mosques and religious schools such as Hawze Almeh in Najaf (Shiite school of thought) which US could not finger point that as Iran’s influence in Iraq. For example, the head of Iran’s judiciary, Ayatollah Shahrudi (who used to be the head SCIRI in early 1980s) and Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, Ali Larijani were both born in Iraq. READ MORE

The SCIRI’s role is likely to depend on Iran and its declared policy of “active neutrality.” SCIRI is surely an official voice of the Iranians. What is critical is how SCIRI will play its role in the Iraq postwar era.

Mehran Riazaty: a former Iran analyst for the Central Command of the Coalition Forces in Baghdad.