Iraq Broadcasters Report Iranian Activities in Iraq 21- 28 Apr

This summary highlights select Iraqi media reporting on Iranian issues, including Iraqi-Iranian relations, economic relations, Iranian “interference” in Iraq, Iranian military activity in Iraq, Iran and the Al-Sadr trend, and other issues between 0600-2200 gmt on 21-28 April 2007. It covers reports carried on:

– Baghdad Al-Sharqiyah Television in Arabic – Independent, private news and entertainment channel focusing on Iraq, run by Sa’d al-Bazzaz, publisher of the Arabic-language daily Al-Zaman

– Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic – government- sponsored television station, run by the Iraqi Media Network

– Baghdad Al-Furat Television Channel in Arabic – Television channel affiliated with the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SCIRI] led by Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim

– Cairo Al-Rafidayn Satellite Channel in Arabic – Pro-Sunni, anti-US Iraqi channel believed to be affiliated with the Association of Muslim Scholars

– Cairo Al-Baghdadiyah Satellite Television in Arabic – Private Iraqi television known for its opposition to the US presence in Iraq

– Baghdad Al-Diyar Television in Arabic – Independent, private news and entertainment channel, run by Faysal al-Yasiri, Iraqi media figure

– Baghdad Baghdad Satellite Television in Arabic – television channel believed to be sponsored by the Iraqi Islamic Party

– The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq WWW-Text in Arabic – Official Internet site of the Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq; URL: http://www.iraq-amsi.org/

Iranian Influence in Iraq:

Within its 1300 gmt newscast on 21 April, Baghdad Al-Sharqiyah Television reports that ” Basra Governor Muhammad Misbih al-Wa’ili met with the Iranian Consul in Basra. Informed sources said that the two sides discussed the security situation in the city and the issue of infiltration across the borders with Iran and the means of achieving stability in Basra.”

Within its 1100 gmt newscast, Baghdad al-Iraqiyah Television reports the following: “Security sources at the army’s Qutaybah border post in Wasit Governorate denied report that the Iranian forces have taken control of the post. The security sources stressed that they are in full control of the post and the border stretch under their responsibilities.”

Within its 1200 gmt newscast on 28 April, Al-Sharqiyah reports: “The US Army has said that US and Iraqi soldiers found Iranian-made rockets and mortar shells during a raid on a residential compound in Al-Mahmudiyah in southern Baghdad. In a statement today, the US Army said that the raid, which was carried out on 22 April, resulted in the discovery of three arms caches and the arrest of eight suspects.”

Within the same newscast, Al-Sharqiyah reports: “The US Army announced that its forces arrested what it described as a seven- member terrorist cell in Al-Sadr city in eastern Baghdad. A US Army statement said that its forces carried out a military operation in Al-Sadr city and arrested seven people suspected of belonging to a cell tied to a secret terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosives from Iran to Iraq, in addition to sending people to Iran to receive training on carrying out terrorist operations. The statement said that intelligence reports also indicated that the cell had links to a kidnapping network that carried out attacks within Iraq.”

International Conference on Iraq:

Al-Sharqiyah leads its 1600 gmt newscast on 22 April with the following report: “The Iranian Foreign Ministry has said that Iran will decide whether it will attend the international conference, which will be held in early May and which is aimed at discussing the ongoing conflict in Iraq, following a meeting with the Iraqi foreign minister. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Muhammad Ali Husayni said that Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki will hold talks with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari this week, noting that Iran will then make its final decision. He pointed out that the problem lies in the venue of meeting and its context, adding that his country did not link the issue of holding the meeting of Iraq’s neighbouring countries with other issues and will never do so.”

Baghdad Al-Sharqiyah Television carries the following report within its 0600 gmt newscast on 24 April:

“The Financial Times has said that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged Iran to take part in the Iraq conference which will be held in Sharm al-Shaykh next month. In an interview published by the newspaper, Rice said that this chance will be lost if Iran does not attend the conference. She said that it is up to the Iranian Government to make a decision in this regard.”

Iranian Military Activities in Iraq:

Within its 0900 gmt newscast on 25 April, Al-Sharqiyah reports the following:

– “Police forces in the Salman P subdistrict near Al-Tuz managed last night to foil a attempt to take control of the police headquarters, noting that clashes erupted with the attackers which did not cause any casualties. “

– “A Basra police source has said that the bomb squad defused 15 artillery shells, adding that the bombs were found in Al-Shu’aybah area 45 kilometres west of Basra. “

– ” The US Radio Sawa reported that an Iranian military force stormed a border point in Al-Kut city, capital of Wasit Governorate, south of Baghdad, and occupied it. Citing informed security sources working with the Multinational Forces in southern Iraq, the radio reported that an Iranian military force stormed on Tuesday morning Qutaybah border military point on the border with Iran, eastern Al- Kut, and then occupied it after asking the Iraqi forces stationed there to pull out saying that it is part of Iranian territories. The sources added that the Iranian forces informed the Iraqi soldiers that Iran will start drilling for oil and its derivates on Wednesday at this location and that they must not interfere. The Iraqi government has not made any statement in this connection.”

Iraqi Foreign Minister’s Tehran Visit

Al-Iraqiyah Television carries the following report within its 0600 gmt newscast on 26 April:

“Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari arrived in the Iranian capital, Tehran, to discuss Iran’s participation in the coming ministerial meeting which will be held in Sharm al-Shaykh on 4 May. In a news conference in Tehran with Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, Zebari said that Iraq decided to expel the Mojahedin-e Khalq from Iraq. A Foreign Ministry statement noted that during this visit, Zebari will hold meetings with the Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad and Mottaki to discuss the importance of the conference that will be held next week and to encourage Iran to attend.”

Al-Iraqiyah carries the following report within its 1400 gmt newscast on 26 April:

“Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari met with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad in Tehran this afternoon. The two sides discussed the possibility of Iran’s participation in the international conference on Iraq which is scheduled to be held in Egypt early May. Zebari earlier met with his Iranian counterpart Manuchehr Mottaki. The two sides discussed Iran’s participation in the upcoming ministerial meeting which will be held on 4 May in Sharm al-Shaykh.”

Arrest of Iraqis Planning To Destroy Victory Arch

Baghdad Al-Sharqiyah Television carries the following report at 0900 gmt on 24 April :

“The US forces arrested 10 Iraqi gunmen who left the Green Zone and were planning to demolish the Victory Arch, which is a symbol of Iran’s defeat in the war with Iraq. Iraqi security sources said that the 10 detainees had hidden a quantity of explosives in an area close to the arch. The sources did not reveal the identities of the detainees or the side which sent them to carry out the operation. The Command of the Multinational Forces in Iraq rejected in the past months a request from the Iraqi Government to remove the arch on the pretext that it represents an era in the former Iraqi regime’s history.”

Iraqi-Iranian Borders

Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television carries the following announcer- read report within its 1400 gmt newscast on 27 April:

“The commander of the Polish troops, which operate as part of the Multinational Forces in Wasit Governorate, has announced that the Iraqi troops in Wasit are highly prepared to fully take over the security file. He, however, said that the Iranian-Iraqi borders are still suffering from violations made by a number of persons who work in trade between the two countries.”

Political Talk Shows:

At 1730 gmt on 23 April, Cairo Al-Rafidayn Satellite Channel carries a new episode of its weekly “Political Dialogue” programme, presented by Muhammad Subhi.

The guest of the programme is Dr Ali al-Jarush, director of the Relations Office at the Arab League.

The topic of discussion is the Arab states’ role with regard to the current situation in Iraq.

Al-Jarush stresses the importance of the Arab League’s role with regard to Iraq. Al-Jarush notes that the Arab League’s participation in the recent Baghdad regional and international conference. Al- Jarush also previews the upcoming conference scheduled to be held in Sharm al-Shaykh early next month.

Asked about Iran’s hints that it might not attend the Sharm al- Shaykh conference, Al-Jarush says: “As you know, Iran is a regional country that has its role and influence. As we all know, Iran has great influence inside Iraq and on the political and security process in Iraq. At the same time, it has many problems with the United States and other countries of the world with regard to other files. Iran is expected to exert some pressure to achieve some interests. As for its participation in the Sharm al-Shaykh summit, it announced through a number of officials that it is still thinking and that it has not decided to participate. I believe that this is part of the pressure exerted by Tehran to achieve some gains in other issues.”

Answering a question on “regional influence” in Iraq and the Iranian role in Iraq, Al-Jarush says: “As I said, Iran is an influential power in Iraq in the political and security areas. The occupation forces and the United States level many accusations against Iran. One of these accusations is providing various factions in Iraq with weapons. The US forces say that they keep finding Iranian-made weapons. We call on all the neighbouring countries – this is clear in the Arab League’s resolutions in the Arab summit resolutions – to do their best to help the Iraqi people and maintain the Iraqis’ security, achievements, property, and safety.” He notes that the Arab League secretary general had met “several” Iranian officials and that he asked them to help in calming the situation in Iraq and not to interfere in Iraq’s affairs.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Middle East. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.