VZCZCXRO8929
PP RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHBC #0028/01 0570704
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 260704Z FEB 06
FM REO BASRAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0259
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBC/REO BASRAH 0277

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