IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN BASRAH - SLOW, SUBTLE AND STEADY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BASRAH 000028

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/26/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER IZ
SUBJECT: IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN BASRAH - SLOW, SUBTLE AND STEADY

REF: (A) 05 BASRAH 140 (B) 05 BASRAH 148

BASRAH 00000028 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Mark Marrano, Deputy Regional Coordinator, Basrah
Regional Embassy Office, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)





1. (S/NF) Summary. The Iranian Government is focused on
quietly spreading influence by facilitating travel to Iran,
investing in different projects and organizations in Basrah, and
working with Iraqi nationals with strong personal ties to Iran.
The opinions expressed by Basrah Regional Embassy Office (REO)
contacts only differed regarding the degree of Iranian
influence. Binding Basrah province with strong political and
economic ties, Iran ensures that one of the most economically
significant provinces of Iraq will not only be a friendly
neighbor, but a close ally as well. End Summary.

Money Talks
--------------


2. (S/NF) The Iranian Government is focused on quietly
spreading influence in southern Iraq. To gauge the extent of
Iranian influence in Basrah, the Deputy Regional Coordinator
heard from ten different individuals representing a wide variety
of backgrounds. According to Ghali Najam Muter, Basrah
Provincial Council and National Accord Party member, the south
is quietly being influenced by Iran. He stated there are many
offices in Basrah that disguise themselves as tourist agencies
for travel to Iranian religious sites, but they are actually
fronts for the Iranian Government. He said that one group in
particular "Said Al Shohada" (The Martyrs) not only facilitates
travel to Iran, but provides Iranian government funding to
various NGOs, sports organizations and youth clubs in Basrah.
Ghali said that the US Government needs to counter Iranian
influence by being more proactive in funding similar projects
for the city of Basrah through NGO's and different groups.


3. (S/NF) Ali Al Amri, the Chief Editor of the local
newspaper, "Zahrat Al Basrah," stated that "Said Al Shohada"
provided him with a special pass in lieu of a visa to visit Iran
for a press conference. He added that the organization also
provides these passes for visiting various religious sites in
Iran. Al Amri believes that Iranian influence in Basrah has
grown in the past year. He opined that the increase of
religious fervor in Basrah is a direct result of Iranian
influence and suggested that local imams are on the payroll of
the Iranian government. Al Amri pointed out that if it weren't
for these imams, the people of Basrah would be like they were
before, tolerant of the Christians and allowing stores to sell
alcohol and nightclubs to operate. With regards to religious
instruction, Bassam M. Al Temimi of the NGO, the General Human
Rights Society of Southern Iraq, said he knew of workshops for
women being conducted by Iranians that encouraged them to stay
at home, not work and wear the veil.


4. (S/NF) A local reporter for Reuters in Basrah, Abdul Razak
Hameed, stressed that Iran is influencing Basrah by funneling
money to various groups and individuals. He admitted, "I have
never seen any Iranian in Basrah, but I feel Iranian influence
everywhere." He said Basrah desperately needs money to rebuild;
an opinion that was echoed by a prominent businessman who stated
that the city currently needs a lot of infrastructure
investment, which the Iranians are eager to provide. As part of
an official trade delegation, this particular businessman was
invited by the Iranian Government to a trade show in
Kermanshahr, southwest of Tehran.


5. (S/NF) The funneling of Iranian money is also prevalent in
the security forces according to Shaykh Kadhim al Ribat, a local
tribal leader. Shaykh Kadhim stated that the Iranians are
quietly taking over the security forces by giving money to
different political groups and militias. He added that the Iraqi
Border Police, instead of controlling who comes into the country
from Iran, is acting like a "welcoming committee" for the
Iranians.

Iranian Iraqis
--------------


6. (S/NF) The Basrah Governor once referred to the prevalent
Iranian influence in Basrah as being the result of the double
"I's," the Iranian Iraqis. He said that during the last decade,
many Iraqis have either lived in Iran for a long period of time
or have repeatedly visited there. These individuals now have
strong personal or professional ties in the form of Iranian
wives or Iranian money respectively.


7. (S/NF) This same opinion was expressed by the Chief of
Police, Hasan al Swaidi, who stated that the Iranian influence

BASRAH 00000028 002.2 OF 002


in Basrah is tremendous. He pointed out that all the Iraqis that
fled to Iran 10 - 15 years ago have returned to Iraq with
Iranian women, Iranian children and Iranian ideas. Al Swaidi
added that these individuals are quietly taking over the
security forces and the provincial council. He concluded that
the assassinations that have occurred in Basrah have links to
the Iranians who are killing off the old Baathists and members
of the intelligentsia.


8. (S/NF) With regards to political parties, SCIRI appears to
be the party of choice for the Iranian Iraqis. Julie Hughes,
Director of Political Parties for the NGO National Democratic
Institute, who has been in Basrah for three years, stated that
"SCIRI is Iran." She added that the party member base is
composed mostly of 45-65 year olds with strong ties to Iran.


9. (S/NF) Iranian influence in the Basrah Provincial Council
is also subtle, but prevalent. The Provincial Council (PC)
member, Imam Baha Jama al' Deen, a well respected, independent
member of the PC, stated that there are provincial council
members who have Iranian "consultants." He added that there are
also organizations in Basrah that actively promote Iranian
interests in a low profile manner. Imam Baha mentioned that the
Iranian Government has received many warnings from the western
countries to not interfere in Iraq, especially in the south, so
Iran is very careful and very subtle in its interference.

Hearts and Minds
--------------


10. (S/NF) Comment: The above conversations with the different
individuals show the subtle, slow and steady nature of Iranian
influence in Basrah. Through the quiet funding of projects and
the encouragement to travel to Iran, the Iranian Government is
laying the foundation for a city that will at least be extremely
sympathetic, if not completely on its side in the political and
economic spheres. With regards to the latter, the influence is
not only in the form of investment into infrastructure projects,
but also in the daily trading of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Director General of Iraqi Ports, Captain Hussain Abdallah,
commented that many Iranian dhows daily cross the Shatt al Arab
River to supply fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products for
the Basrah market. From supplying basic commodities to
funneling money to rebuild the city, the Iranian Government has
an apparent effective plan to win the hearts and minds of the
local population. End Comment.
MARRANO