BAGHDAD — The Iraqi prime minister is sending several senior Shiite leaders to Tehran to discuss their concerns that Iran is arming and financing militias in Iraq, senior Iraqi and American officials said Wednesday.
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One American official described the Iraqis’ concern about Iran’s role as “the silver lining” to recent fighting between Shiite militias and Iraqi and American security forces in Basra and in the Sadr City area of Baghdad, a militia stronghold.
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An Iraqi official said the delegation included two of Mr. Maliki’s long-time political allies and a powerful member of another Shiite political party that backs him. All of them have ties to Iran.
The official said the group would raise the issue of the Iranian arms shipments that have been found and other indications that Tehran is meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs. The delegation is expected to visit influential ayatollahs in Qom and to go to Tehran.
One Iraqi official said he expected the group to meet with Brig. Gen. Qassen Suleimani, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, a paramilitary group that American officials say is backing Shiite militias in Iraq.
Some officials said the delegation might also meet with Moktada al-Sadr, the cleric whose Madhi Army has been involved in attacks on American and Iraqi troops, and who is now thought to be staying in Iran.
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As I noted earlier in the week I just finished reading "Bitter Friends Bosom Enemies". I think Barbara Slavin would say that this is actually an anticipated move. That the religious ties will eventually be overwhelmed by the differences and distrust between the Arabic and Persian culture. If so then this may be the beginning of a break between Iran and their surrogates.
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