ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM ON IRAN, SADR AGREEMENT, AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003532

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ IR
SUBJECT: ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM ON IRAN, SADR AGREEMENT, AND
TENSIONS WITH TURKEY

REF: BAGHDAD 3375 (SADR-BADR AGREEMENT)

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI)
Chairman Abdul Aziz al-Hakim told the Ambassador on October
22 that an improved security climate has helped Iraqis and
their regional neighbors accept "the reality of democracy in
Iraq." Back temporarily from cancer treatment in Iran and
looking much healthier than the last time we saw him in
August, Hakim flagged two issues he claimed were of concern
to Iraqi Shia: the "arming" of Sunnis as part of the
Concerned Local Citizens (CLC) program, and the "escalation"
of U.S.-Iran tension. The Ambassador clarified that we have
not provided arms to any CLC, and that we fully coordinate
our actions with the Government of Iraq's Follow-up Committee
for National Reconciliation (IFCNR). He suggested ISCI
participation in the Committee. Hakim characterized his
recent mutual non-aggression pact with the Sadrists as "an
important agreement" and said he had already seen an
improvement in security conditions as a result. He expressed
dismay at recent PKK attacks launched from Iraq against
Turkish troops, saying the drafters of Iraq's constitution
anticipated and tried to prevent such incidents by inserting
constitutional language that forbids safe haven to any group
that wages war on a neighboring state. Hakim closed the
meeting by pressing for release of a detained ISCI/Badr
cadre, arguing with apparent indignation that an innocent
man had been arrested without just cause and detained
without charge (in fact, he was detained after being
implicated in an EFP network). End Summary.

Facing Reality, Voicing Concerns
--------------


2. (C) Hakim said Iraq had made a great deal of progress over
the past year, and improvements in security and a general
sense of calm were helping Iraqi citizens accept "the reality
of democracy in Iraq." His discussions with regional
interlocutors convinced him that countries in the region also
sensed progress and have also accepted this new reality.
Back on a temporary visit from lung cancer treatment in Iran
(he will return to Iran October 23 and travel to Houston
later this year for follow-up tests) and looking healthier,
heavier, and more vigorous than the last time we saw him in
August, Hakim stated that he had recently visited Grand
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf and met with four southern
provincial governors, all of whom expressed satisfaction that
Iraq was making progress. He said the Maliki government was
moving forward with broad-based support, noting progress in
the oil and electricity sectors, and predicted the GOI would
act next week to announce candidates for vacant ministerial
positions. Turning to his son and ISCI heir apparent Amar,
Hakim noted Amar had made a positive visit to Anbar province
over the Eid holiday (a trip that featured a meeting with
Sunni Sheikh Ahmed al-Rishawi that garnered significant media
play and served to further ISCI's efforts to cast Amar as a
national leader). The Ambassador stated that the GOI should
take advantage of the improved security environment by making
real political progress and moving ahead on key pending
legislation and improved public services so that the Iraqi
people can see their government is working for their benefit.



3. (C) Pausing periodically to hack out a rasping smoker's
cough, the black-turbaned and black-cloaked Hakim repeated
the same complaint we have heard from virtually every leading
Shia politician, Prime Minister Maliki included, that alleged
MNF-I "arming" of Sunni security volunteers is causing great
concern in the Shia community. The Ambassador clarified
that we have not provided even one rifle to Sunnis or Shia
security volunteers, and that we are coordinate all CLC
formation and operations with the GOI through the Prime
Minister's Follow Up Committee for National Reconciliation
(IFCNR). Maliki has promised additional resources to increase
the committee's effectiveness, and the IFCNR leadership
confirms this will be forthcoming. The Ambassador also urged
direct ISCI/Badr participation in the IFCNR. He briefed
Hakim on a successful CLC and reconciliation project taking
place in the mixed Shia-Sunni Baghdad area of Al-Jihad, a
project Maliki himself hailed as a model of reconciliation.


4. (C) Hakim stated Iraqi Shia are also concerned about an
"escalation" in U.S.-Iran tensions for which Iraqis are
paying a price. Acknowledging that bilateral problems are
reflected in Iraq, the Ambassador noted that much is unclear
about Iranian developments and cited the resignation of Ali
Larijani as an example. Hakim said he often meets with
Iranian officials on an informal basis, and clarified that
Larijani resigned as Secretary General of Iran's NSC but
retained his NSC member position as Supreme Leader Khamenei's
personal representative.

BAGHDAD 00003532 002 OF 002



Sadr Agreement, Tension with Turkey
--------------


5. (C) Turning to the issue of his October 6 agreement with
Moqtada al-Sadr regarding relations between ISCI/Badr and
the Sadrist movement, including the Jaysh al-Mehdi (JAM),
Hakim said the agreement was important and that he had
already seen an improvement in security conditions as a
result (reftel). The Ambassador said that indirect fire
attacks against the International Zone have stopped and that
we don't know if Iran played a part in this or Sadr's freeze
order, which we welcome but continue to monitor. In reply to
the Ambassador's question of whether the freeze and the
agreement signaled a real change in Sadr's outlook, Hakim
said late August JAM violence in the holy Shia city of
Karbala had prompted both ISCI and the Sadrists to agree to
improve the situation.


6. (C) Noting that the ISCI-led United Iraqi Alliance
parliamentary coalition had played a positive role in
drafting a helpful Iraqi parliamentary statement regarding
current Iraq-Turkey border tension, the Ambassador stated the
current situation there is dangerous. Hakim expressed
dismay at recent PKK attacks against Turkish troops, and
traced the PKK problem back to the Saddam regime, which
allowed such groups to attack from Iraqi soil as a means to
increase regime power and leverage. He said the drafters of
Iraq's constitution anticipated and tried to prevent such
incidents by inserting constitutional language that forbids
safe haven to any group that seeks to wage war on a
neighboring state. Hakim said Iraq wishes good relations
with Turkey and does not want a war. He closed the meeting
by pressing for release of a detained ISCI/Badr cadre.
Hakim argued with indignation that an innocent man had been
arrested without cause or, at the very most, on the basis of
false reports provided by his enemies, and detained without
charge or investigation. In fact, the individual was
detained after being implicated in an EFP network.
CROCKER