Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HILLAH97
2006-06-01 14:31:00
SECRET//NOFORN
REO Hillah
Cable title:  

IRANIAN FM MOTTAKI AND AYATOLLAH SISTANI DISCUSS US-IRAN

Tags:  PGOV KISL KDEM IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4759
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHIHL #0097 1521431
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 011431Z JUN 06
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0631
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0645
INFO RUEHBC/REO BASRAH PRIORITY 0017
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 0696
S E C R E T HILLAH 000097 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/1/2016
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: IRANIAN FM MOTTAKI AND AYATOLLAH SISTANI DISCUSS US-IRAN
R=?ISO-8859-1?Q?ELATIONSHIP_AND_IRAN'S_ROLE_I N_IRAQ

CLASSIFIED BY: Douglas Meurs, Deputy Regional Coordinator, REO
Hillah, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



S E C R E T HILLAH 000097

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/1/2016
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: IRANIAN FM MOTTAKI AND AYATOLLAH SISTANI DISCUSS US-IRAN
R=?ISO-8859-1?Q?ELATIONSHIP_AND_IRAN'S_ROLE_I N_IRAQ

CLASSIFIED BY: Douglas Meurs, Deputy Regional Coordinator, REO
Hillah, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (U) This is a SET Najaf cable.


2. (S) Summary: On May 27, Iranian Foreign Minister (FM)
Manouchehr Mottaki visited local officials and members of the
religious community in Najaf. Mottaki's visit began at one of
Shia Islam's most holy sites, the Imam Ali Shrine. He visited
Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani and sought his guidance on a wide
range of issues. Sistani told Mottaki that Iran should stay
neutral and not interfere in Iraqi internal affairs. He
declined to offer his views on U.S./Iranian bilateral issues,
saying that the two nations should solve their problems off of
Iraqi soil. Mottaki informed Sistani that Iran intended to open
a consulate in Basra. End Summary. End summary.


3. (S//NOFORN) According to a reliable local source with direct
knowledge of the meeting, Iranian FM Mottaki met May 27 with
Ayatollah Al-Sistani at the cleric's home in Najaf. Mottaki was
accompanied by Najaf Governor Asaad Al-Taee and Deputy Governor
Hassan.Abtan, both of the Supreme Council of the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). Mottaki passed along greetings from
the Ayatollahs who compose the Hawza in Iran. He went on to
extend an invitation to Sistani to visit Iran.


4. (S) The two men discussed the role Iran should play in
Iraq's future. Sistani told Mottaki that Iran should be helping
to stabilize the security situation in Iraq and that Iraq's
neighbor should be a "partner in securing the shared border."
The job of Iran in Iraq's affairs is to "not interfere in Iraqi
internal affairs and stay neutral," the Ayatollah reminded the
Foreign Minister. Sistani added that Iran had an obligation to
help Iraqi refugees living in the camps at the Iran-Iraq border.


5. (S) The Iranian FM noted that Iran had supported the
government of Iraq in assisting with public services in Najaf
and that they will continue that support. He allowed that Iran
would like to increase its official diplomatic representation in
Iraq. Mottaki told the Ayatollah of Iran's plan to open a new
consulate in Basrah.


6. (S) Mottaki asked for Sistani's guidance regarding possible
negotiations between the United States and Iran. Without
expressing an opinion regarding the problems, Sistani made it
clear that the situation between the U.S. and Iran was not an
Iraqi problem. He asserted that "the two nations must solve
their problems off of Iraq's soil."


7. (S) Comment: Sistani's refusal to offer advice regarding
Iran's relationship with the U.S. is in line with his stance
that the Hawza in Najaf should not participate in politics. He
was quite clear with Mottaki, however, regarding Iran's
activities in Iraq. Without noting Iran's apparent support for
violent activity, he let the Foreign Minister know that the
Najaf Hawza was not pleased. In the end, this visit was
perfunctory and it seems unlikely that the private words of
Ayatollah Al-Sistani will have a public impact. The more
Sistani recedes from public life, the stronger the hand of
political groups such as SCIRI and the followers of Moqtada
Al-Sadr to claim to speak on Sistani's behalf regarding the
guidance his Hawza in Najaf has for Iraq's Shi'a Muslims. End
comment.

MEURS