AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH COUNCIL OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002676

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PTER IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH COUNCIL OF
REPRESENTATIVES SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI

Classified By: Classified by Political Counselor Margaret Scobey for 1.
4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met July 22 with
Council of Representatives Speaker Mahmoud
Mashadani. Ambassador said recent Mashadani
statements blasting the Coalition presence were
unacceptable in tone. Mashadani defended his
statements as political rhetoric designed to score
points "on the street," but unreflective of his
actual views. Mashadani described his recent visit
to Iran as successful, and noted Iranian overtures
toward cooperation predicated on Iraqi moves to
reduce the presence of Coalition Forces and deal
with remaining MEK fighters. Ambassador made clear
U.S. doubts over Iranian intentions. Mashadani
called for further U.S.-Sunni insurgent dialogue.
Ambassador said while the U.S. is ready for dialogue, the
insurgent attacks need to stop. END SUMMARY.

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IRAN TRIP READOUT; SUNNI GROUPS "READY FOR
DIALOGUE."
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2. (C) Mashadani began with a readout of
his recent visit to Iran. The Sunni Speaker said he
carried a message of reconciliation, and a request
to "stop the bloodbath which you have been part of."
Mashadani said he told the Iranians frankly that the
U.S. presence in Iraq is not consistent with Iranian
security interests, but that the U.S. presence is
"linked to the security card." He said he told
his Iranian interlocutors that as Speaker
he would ensure the Council would not create
problems for Iran, but that Iran must "reduce"
support for Jaish al-Mahdi (JAM). Mashadani further
said he advised his Iranian interlocutors to: 1)
solve your nuclear problem with the West, 2) write a
letter to Bahrain reassuring them you will not
invade, 3) solve the Iran-UAE island dispute, 4)
build mosques in Anbar province as well as in other
areas of the country, and 5) provide electricity
from the Iranian grid.


3. (C) The Iranians, Mashadani said, want two
things from Iraq: a timetable for the withdrawal of
U.S. troops, and the ejection of MEK fighters from
Iraq. Mashadani said he asked Rafsanjani whether
Iran today is revolutionary Iran, or Iran the State.
Rafsanjani said a State, with real interests,
vulnerable to American weapons, but we "cannot show
ourselves surrendered in front of our people."


4. (C) Mashadani said Iranian President Ahmedi-
Nejad greeted him as a fellow Islamist, and claimed
to have pressured the Shia coalition accept him as
speaker "because you are known to dislike hostility
toward neighbors." He said Ahmedi-Nejad said he is
ready to visit Iraq, and contribute to
reconstruction. Ahmedi-Nejad said Iran does not
want an expensive adventure in Iraq, or instability
in Bahrain. He said they Iranians are afraid of
U.S. bases in Iraq, and said it is Iran that should
be seeking reassurances from Iraq. Iran, he said,
should be part of the regional security system, not
set against it. Iran seeks the success of Iraq's
current government, and is ready to cooperate "even
on the military level." While there are some
groups Iran cannot control, the are some they can
influence. Mashadani said he spoke with MOIS
representatives as well, who said they are ready to
cooperate in information-sharing "on condition (INIS
Director) Mohammed Shahwani is replaced."


5. (C) Mashadani expressed disappointment that
Iraq's "political project" is not moving forward.
He said Sunni insurgent groups are committed to the
political process, but remain frustrated by the
continued detention of a number of several insurgent
leaders. Mashadani said he plans to meet with
Association of Muslim Scholars head Harith al-Dari
in Syria, where he hopes Syrian security concerns
will make them more amenable to cooperation.

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RECENT MASHADANI STATEMENTS UNACCEPTABLE
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6. (C) Ambassador told Mashadani that visit to Iran

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and statements made on the visit led some to believe
that the trip was an anti-U.S. statement. It is
good to hear a different view. However, Mashadani's
recent statements (septel) regarding the United
States, and Coalition Forces, are a source of great
concern for us and our coalition partners. We have
worked hard, with success, to bring Sunnis into the
political process. While we do not want hostile
Iraq-Iran relations, we believe Iran does not want
Iraq's government to succeed, but rather to keep it
weak and divided. We are ready for dialogue with
insurgent groups, but it is time for the insurgency
to end this violence. We are ready to work together
to address Sunni concerns. Our goal is an Iraq that
stands on its own.


7. (C) Mashadani responded that he "speaks the
language of the street," and that while he must
attack the U.S. in public statements, the public
support he generates in response is "good for you
and for me." Mashadani claimed to gain the
confidence of JAM, for instance, from his anti-U.S.
statements. But, he said, "you should know that the
Tuwaffuq bloc is with you." The Ambassador replied
that while reconciliation may be the goal, the
gratuitous attacks on us are unacceptable,
especially coming out of the office of the speaker
of the Iraqi Council of Representatives. Mashadani
acknowledged that he may have gone too far, and
suggested closer coordination with the Embassy.


8. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO
KIRKUK, minimize considered.

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SCOBEY