The Hindu

Sunday, Sep 07, 2003

Iran steps up efforts to enhance profile in post-war Iraq

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA Sept. 6. Sensing that the U.S. occupation may not prolong
indefinitely, Iran has stepped up efforts to enhance its profile in post-war
Iraq. The presence of the hostile regime of former President Saddam Hussein
had politically edged out Iran from its neighbouring country for over two
decades. Iran and Iraq had also fought a bitter eight year war in the
eighties, which Teheran perceived was part of a western backed plot to roll
back its Islamic revolution.

Iran, therefore did see the departure of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq
earlier this year in a positive development, but, was also alarmed that the
power vacuum in Baghdad left behind with the exit of the Baathist regime was
filled by a hostile United States-a much more powerful adversary. With U.S.
forces already present in Afghanistan, Iran saw itself locked in pincer
along two sides of its international border. But of late, Iran has begun to
sense that the U.S. presence in Iraq may not be permanent and some of its
officials are going public in sounding this sentiment. In a recent interview
to the Iranian English daily Iran News, Iran's Charge d' Affaires in Iraq,
Ali-Reza Haghighian pointed out that "the people of Iraq have a rich
culture, history and civilization. They are unlikely to accept foreign
occupation much longer. The U.S. -led coalition appears to have recognised
this reality and is trying to internationalise its efforts in Iraq." Not
surprisingly, the Iranian side has begun to actively engage the U.S. backed
Iraqi governing council, which it has described as "broad based and multi
ethnic" and made up of "prominent former opposition figure." In a statement
issued earlier this week at the end of the visit of the Jordan's King
Abdullah II to Teheran, both sides "welcomed the establishment of the Iraqi
Governing Council, and described it as a step toward handing over the power
to the Iraqi people."

A delegation from the Iraqi Governing council is expected to visit Teheran
soon. Iranian policy makers appear have done their homework for engaging a
post-war dispensation in Iraq. The brother of the slain Shia leader,
Ayatollah Mohammad Baqr Al Hakim, is a member of the Iraqi governing
council.

The late Ayatollah Hakim was known to be a close friend of Iran where he was
in exile for 23 years, and this was evident when the Iranian Supreme leader,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saw him off the airport prior to his departure for
Iraq in May this year. Ayatollah Hakim's recent assassination, however has
been a big blow to Iranian interests in Iraq.

Apart from developing political nodes in the Iraqi governing council, Iran
is now keen to strengthen its economic bonds with post-war Iraq. Exchange of
businessmen has begun in right earnest and there are plans to open a joint
Iran-Iraq chamber of commerce soon.

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