MFA SHARES INFORMATION ON ABU MAHDI AL-MUHANDIS

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000159 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DNG: CO 01/20/2035 TAGS: KTFN EFIN PINR PTER IR IZ SUBJECT: MFA SHARES INFORMATION ON ABU MAHDI AL-MUHANDIS REF: A. 2009 BAGHDAD 1775 ¶B. 2009 STATE 66565 Classified By: Econ Counselor John Carwile for Reasons 1.4 B and D. ¶1. (S) In response to reftels, MFA Coordinator of Support and Deputy Director of International Organizations Ambassador Mohammed Al-Humaimidi (please protect) on January 20 gave EmbOffs further information he gathered from the GOI interagency process about suspected terrorist Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis. He said that the National Iraqi Intelligence Agency was barred from disclosing any information about him because he is a member of Parliament and is therefore granted immunity. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) reportedly told MFA that Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis was a member of the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF),entered Iraq after 2003, and then went back to Iran, where he currently resides. Al-Humaimidi said the MOI considered Al-Muhandis an "outlaw" because he is a member of the Shi,a militant group Asaib Al-Haq that abducted British advisor to the Ministry of Finance Peter Moore and killed his security team. ¶2. (S) COMMENT: The information provided about Muhandis is widely known in USG circles. Muhandis remains a threat to USG goals and objectives in Iraq given his continued ties to the IRGC-QF. There are indications that Muhandis may be maneuvering to return to political life in Iraq in anticipation of the upcoming elections. Post will continue to monitor this development. ¶3. (S) COMMENT CONTINUED: Although the information Al-Humaimidi provided was not new to the USG, it is possible that the MFA had not received it before Al-Humaimidi acted on our request. Al-Humaimidi's cooperation and follow-through are laudable. He served approximately eight years at the Iraqi Mission to the United Nations and is very familiar with how the 1267 Committee works. He claims to be working to ensure the MFA receives the necessary information from the GOI line ministries, so MFA can inform the Iraqi Mission to the United Nations how act on sanction and designation issues. HILL