Amid speculations and rumours that Iran might have a hand in the recent Shi’ite rebellion against the coalition troops, the former British special envoy to Iraq, Sir Jeremy Greenstock said there is no direct link between Iran and what Moqtada Sadr is doing in Iraq.
Sir Jeremy Greenstock who left Iraq after the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqi interim government was speaking to BBC’s Breakfast with Frost programme on Sunday.
“I don’t think there is an alliance between leaders in Tehran and Moqtada Sadr. He has never been close to the Iranian leadership, but Iran is watching, Iran does not want a complete American success, with the Americans moving onto the next target. Iran wants a state in Iraq which is friendly to Iran, that would trade with them, that would be a good neighbour, that would receive their pilgrims and that would be Shi’ite compatible, so when it’s going too well, they turn up the heat and when it’s going too badly for the stability in Iraq their play may be quite helpful.” Sir Greenstock said in an interview with the programme.
He concluded: “So I don’t think that Iran lies behind the Moqtada rebellion; it is something internal to Iraq”
|
