MUTHANNA OFFICIAL SAYS IRANIAN INTIMIDATION LED TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002001

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV ECON IR IZ
SUBJECT: MUTHANNA OFFICIAL SAYS IRANIAN INTIMIDATION LED TO
HIS RETIREMENT

Classified By: PRT MUTHANNA TEAM LEADER BRADLEY LYNCH FOR REASONS 1.4 (
b) and (d).

This is a Muthanna PRT reporting cable.


1. (C) SUMMARY: Hakim Khazal Khashan, a member of the
Muthanna Provincial Council (PC),announced his resignation
on 7 July. He told PRToffs that he decided to leave
government because his anti-corruption efforts had been
stymied by a broad range of dishonest political actors, and
because Iranian interference was widespread in local
government. Khashan said that he had been targeted by an
Iranian assassination unit due to his membership in the
Middle Euphates Assembly Party, which he said Iran thinks
received support from the U.S. and Arab states. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) On 7 July, Hakim Khazal Khashan, a Muthanna Provincial
Council (PC) member from the Middle Euphrates Assembly Party
announced his resignation. In his role as head of the
Integrity Committee in the previous PC, he had actively
lobbied to clean up provincial government. Khashan contacted
Muthanna PRT prior to the official announcement, and stated
that his anti-corruption efforts had been stymied by a range
of dishonest political actors in Muthanna. He alleged that
Iranian interference was widespread in Muthanna and that many
local government officials take bribes or support the
interests of neighboring countries, like Iran. Khashan
explained that recently he had been warned by senior Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF) commanders to be very careful since
there were threats against him.


3. (C) Khashan called PRToffs from Kuwait on July 13 to
inform them he had departed Iraq abruptly after being warned
to leave the country by a close friend who works for General
Shawani, director of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service.
Khashan claimed that his friend told him that elite Iranian
assassination units had infiltrated Muthanna Province to
target individuals who worked contrary to Iranian interests.
He believed that he had been targeted because of his
affiliation with the Middle Euphrates Assembly, a local
political party, which the Iranians believe receives support
from the U.S. and other Arab nations. Khashan said he
planned to return to Iraq in six to twelve months if security
conditions permit.


4. (C) Comment: Given Khashan's leadership on local
anti-corruption efforts, his abrupt departure from the
political scene may impede local capacity development and
democratic governance. If the stated circumstances
surrounding his resignation and exit from Iraq are true, it
would illustrate that negative Iranian influence can
undermine the effectiveness and tenure of democratically
elected officials, even in a calm area like Muthanna. END
COMMENT.
FORD