ISLAMISTS DENOUNCE U.S. PRESSURE ON IRAN, CALL FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 006120

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2013
TAGS: PREL PTER KISL IR IZ JO MEPP
SUBJECT: ISLAMISTS DENOUNCE U.S. PRESSURE ON IRAN, CALL FOR
RESISTANCE IN IRAQ AND CLOSURE OF JORDANIAN FIELD HOSPITAL

Classified By: Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm for Reasons 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) SUMMARY & COMMENT: Prominent Jordanian Islamists have
denounced U.S. policy toward Iran, encouraged the Iraqi
resistance, and called on Jordan to close its field hospital
in Fallujah, Iraq. The Acting Prime Minister responded to
the last demand, defending the hospital's humanitarian work.
Islamist politicians, foraging for issues to exploit, find
condemnation of U.S. regional activities irresistible -- even
when those issues, such as U.S.-Iran relations, have no real
resonance here. The Jordanian presence and exposure in Iraq
generates complex reactions among Jordanians, but we believe
humanitarian missions, such as that of the military hospital,
enjoy broad domestic support. End Summary & Comment.


2. (U) In an interview with the Iranian state-run news
agency, Azzam Al-Huneidi, head of the Jordanian Islamic
Action Front (IAF) committee for parliamentary affairs, urged
Iran to resist U.S. pressure to open its nuclear program to
further inspections and called on the Islamic world and Arab
states to back Iran in its struggle against Washington.
Al-Huneidi also stated that such pressure was part of a
larger American scheme to gain dominance over the countries
of the region.


3. (U) Turning to Iraq, Al-Huneidi repeated the IAF view
supporting resistance against American and British occupying
forces. Noting the mounting American losses in Iraq, he
claimed that resistance was the only way for Iraq to gain its
independence. Al-Huneidi concluded his interview with a
denouncement of the U.S. "roadmap scheme" and appealed to
Arab countries, and in particular Jordan, to sever all
relations with Israel.


4. (U) In a similar vein, IAF member of Parliament Mohammad
Abu Fares called on the GOJ during a parliamentary session on
September 21 to close down the Jordanian field hospital in
Fallujah. Fares asked that the government "pull out of that
war-torn country and never send any of our troops there,
putting their lives in danger." Acting Prime Minister
Mohammad Halaiqa defended the presence of the field hospital,
stating that it had treated over 50,000 patients. Halaiqa
stressed that Jordan would not cease helping the Iraqi
people.


5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
GNEHM