Zawahiri Video Compilation

With the release of the Zawahiri video today I thought it was time to update the compilation of screen shots of his videos – (they are labeled by their date by year month day) some of the things of note

2005 4 25 was within days of the Saudi King dying (hence the outdoor environment)

2005 12 7 is the first without the brown background and with Al-Qaeda provided English subtitles

Beginning in 2006 with the notable exception of 2006 3 5 the production levels of the videos increased significantly.

2006 1 30 and 2006 2 20 could possibly be the same video just Al-Qaeda releasing the full video on the internet as one can see the As Sahab label behind the Al-Jazeera and the similarities of the staging.

2006 9 29 actually had two segments (they can been seen in the Zaw 2) also this one has a very odd background that looks to be computer generated or perhaps a set, meant to look like a “realistic” office as opposed to 2006 6 23 and 2006 7 27 which had relatively advanced graphics.

2006 8 5 was actually an intro to another individuals video

9 of 19 does not have a gun in the background. (the most recent one does and on the opposite side if him)

Perhaps the most interesting is that the 2006 9 11 and the 2007 5 5 the bookcases in the background appear to be the same material/coloring making it likely that these were shot in the same room. Given the increased production values beginning in 2006 might mean that Zawahiri is both in an urban area and that he is remaining in the same general vicinity or at least cycling through the same “safe houses” for the last 8 months.

What People Are Watching

Everyday there are several books worth of material written on the issue of what people around the world are thinking or what they are interested in. There are also countless polls offered every year designed to produce “scientific proof” of what the worlds views are. However, any of these efforts inevitably run the risk that in quantum physics is called the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle which in a very butchered way could means that any number of issues - including the very effort of asking the question leads to changes in opinions. However the ability to look in on the actual actions and preferences of individuals is a dream of every analyst and marketing specialists. There are actually two very unique tools from Google to do just that.

The first is Google Trends which allows the user to type in terms and see where and in what languages those terms are the most popular. This particular tool was discussed about a year ago in an interesting article which points out some very unexpected indicators of what interest individuals in areas such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Needless to say there is an issue at play in this similar to the most famous wrong headline in American Political History in that access to the internet is something available to the elite, however these middle and upper classes are also those that have the time to devote to politics as well.

The second interesting tool is that available through Googles Video Search which under the “Popular“ section one can examine the 100 most popular videos that are viewed in any number of countries around the world including, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia. Interestingly many of those videos that are popular on the American version of this list also appear on those countries with majority muslim populations. One of the funnier entries on these lists was the presence of ”Weird Al’s White and Nerdy” video as the number 100 entry for the United Arab Emeries. Now although it is doubtful that one of his other songs “pretty fly for a rabbi” is likely to appear on the same list at any time in the future, it is potentially useful and even powerful tool for those involved in crafting the war of ideas to examine exactly what their targets enjoy, rather than assume anything.

Top jihadi strategist brought Iraq’s insurgents into the al-Qaeda fold

Excerpt -

Pakistani intelligence sources said that Abd al-Iraqi had often visited the Bajaur tribal region, one of the main centres of al-Qaeda operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. US officials said last night that they believed him to be the mastermind behind two attempts in 2002 to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.
[I thought they said those attacks were all the work of al-Libbi. Does that mean Al-Libbi was not number 3? Does that mean al-Libbi was just a local errand boy like I said two years ago? :) I know I am beating a dead horse here but considering the number of people who said I was up in the night back then I just have to do a little end zone dance :) okay I am done. Now isn’t it interesting that this guy moved so easily between remote areas on the Pakistan Afghan border region and Iraq :).]

April 28, 2007
Top jihadi strategist brought Iraq’s insurgents into the al-Qaeda fold
Sean O’Neill and Tim Reid

Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi is among the most important figures to have been captured since 9/11 and his detention is a significant blow to Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network.

More than anyone else, it was Abd al-Hadi who rebuilt al-Qaeda after its leadership fled from the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Once secured in the tribal areas of Pakistan, he began forging a firm alliance with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and bringing the jihad in Iraq under the al-Qaeda banner. He ran terror training camps, planned strategy with bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri and directed operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Europe.

Pakistani intelligence sources said that Abd al-Iraqi had often visited the Bajaur tribal region, one of the main centres of al-Qaeda operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. US officials said last night that they believed him to be the mastermind behind two attempts in 2002 to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.

Compared with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed — the planner of the 9/11 atrocities whom he will join in the “high-value detainee programme” in Guantanamo Bay — Abd al-Hadi’s operations were less ambitious but usually more attainable.

Security sources say Abd al-Hadi masterminded a series of plots to carry out suicide attacks in Britain, using young British Muslims including the 7/7 bombers. There have been previous attempts to capture or kill him. In 2004 the Pakistani Army mounted a huge assault on a compound that was thought to be his base. More than 70 people died.

Abd al-Hadi, whose full name is Nashwan Abdulrazaq Abdulbaqi, was born in 1961 in the Kurdish city of Mosul, northern Iraq. He did national service in Saddam Hussein’s Army, rising to the rank of major, but left for Afghanistan in the mid-1980s to join the jihad against the Soviet Union.

His military experience and expertise, as well as his commitment to the Islamist cause, attracted the attention of bin Laden and his fledgling al-Qaeda movement. Abd al-Hadi commanded many of the training camps that were established by al-Qaeda when it returned to Afghanistan after the Taleban seized control there in 1996. After the invasion of Afghanistan, Abd al-Hadi maintained a strong relationship with the Taleban and has used those bonds in the campaign against Western forces in Afghanistan.

In August 2005 he appeared in an al-Qaeda propaganda video that showed militants in Afghanistan — including Europeans, Arabs and other fighters — preparing to attack US troops. In the video Abd al-Hadi said that the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq had created “two fronts” for recruiting terrorists to the cause of global jihad.“Now all the world is united behind Mullah Omar and Sheikh Osama,” he said.

Abd al-Hadi is now locked up in the maximum-security Camp 5 block of Guantanamo Bay, set aside for the most significant terror suspects.

The Pentagon said that Abd al-Hadi had been classified as a “high-value” detainee, along with 14 others. They spend 23 hours a day inside a 7ft (3m by 2m) cell. The classification indicated that US officials believed the capture had a significant effect on al-Qaeda operations and that the prisoner was capable of providing high-quality intelligence.

CNN cited unnamed US officials saying that Abd al-Hadi came into CIA custody after President Bush’s speech last September on the agency’s programme of interrogating high-value prisoners. At that time, the president said, there were “no terrorists” in the CIA programme.

Abd al-Hadi faces a closed-door hearing to determine his status. It will be overseen by a “presiding officer” who must determine if he can be designated as an “unlawful enemy combatant”. If he is given this classification, then the US does not have to charge him or try him.

The US Rewards For Justice programme described Abd al-Hadi as one of bin Laden’s “top global deputies” who remained in contact with his emir. A reward of $1 million (£500,000) was offered for his capture. The reality is that his arrest was of much greater value.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1717580.ece


April 28, 2007
7/7 ‘mastermind’ is seized in Iraq
Sean O’Neill, Tim Reid and Michael Evans

The al-Qaeda leader who is thought to have devised the plan for the July 7 suicide bombings in London and an array of terrorist plots against Britain has been captured by the Americans.

Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, a former major in Saddam Hussein’s army, was apprehended as he tried to enter Iraq from Iran and was transferred this week to the “high-value detainee programme” at Guantanamo Bay.

Abd al-Hadi was taken into CIA custody last year, it emerged from US intelligence sources yesterday, in a move which suggests that he was interrogated for months in a “ghost prison” before being transferred to the internment camp in Cuba.

Abd al-Hadi, 45, was regarded as one of al-Qaeda’s most experienced, most intelligent and most ruthless commanders. Senior counter-terrorism sources told The Times that he was the man who, in 2003, identified Britain as the key battleground for exporting al-Qaeda’s holy war to Europe.

Abd al-Hadi recognised the potential for turning young Muslim radicals from Britain who wanted to become mujahidin in Afghanistan or Iraq into terrorists who could carry out attacks in their home country. He realised that their knowledge of Britain, possession of British passports and natural command of English made them ideal recruits. After al-Qaeda restructured its operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas he sought out young Britons for instruction at training camps. In late 2004 Abd al-Hadi met Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer, from Leeds, at a militant camp in Pakistan and, in the words of a senior investigator, “retasked them” to become suicide bombers.

They were sent back to Britain where they led the terrorist cell that carried out the 7/7 bombings, killing 52 Tube and bus passengers.

Pakistani intelligence sources said that Abd al-Hadi was also in contact with Rachid Rauf, a Birmingham man now in prison in Pakistan and alleged to be a key figure in last summer’s alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners in mid-flight.

Abd al-Hadi has also been linked to a number of other foiled al-Qaeda plots to carry out attacks in Britain. But the Security Service, which has previously sent officials to question detainees at Guantanamo Bay, may not have the opportunity to question him directly.

The Government’s recently adopted position in favour of closing Guantanamo Bay is likely to act as a bar on agents travelling there. British Intelligence would have to rely on relaying questions it would like asked by American interrogators.

Security sources said they assessed Abd al-Hadi as a key operational commander, high up the chain in the al-Qaeda structure who was behind many key plots in the UK.

He had a close link with another arrested al-Qaeda figure and, the sources said, would have “a wealth of information”. He is thought to have been in contact with Osama bin Laden before his capture and might be able to provide information about his leader’s whereabouts.

Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said that Abd al-Hadi had been classified as a “high-value detainee” at Guantanamo, and joined 14 others, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the 9/11 mastermind, as the most senior terror suspects at the Cuba prison.

Mr Whitman refused to say when or where he was captured, or by whom. “Abd al-Hadi was trying to return to his native country, Iraq, to manage al-Qaeda's affairs and possibly focus on operations outside Iraq against Western targets,” Mr Whitman said.

He added that he was a key al-Qaeda paramilitary leader in Afghanistan in the late 1990s, and between 2002 and 2004 led efforts to attack US forces in Afghanistan with terrorist units based in Pakistan.

In a lecture this week Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, commander of Sctoland Yard’s Counter-Terrorism Command, said that the central al-Qaeda leadership was behind a spate of terror plots against Britain.

He said: “We have seen how al-Qaeda has been able to survive a prolonged multinational assault on its structures, personnel and logistics. It has certainly retained its ability to deliver centrally directed attacks here in the UK. In case after case, the hand of core al-Qaeda can be clearly seen.”

Sources said last night that few figures had been more important at the centre of the revived al-Qaeda. Abd al-Hadi is credited with forming its alliance with the insurgency in Iraq.

US officials said he was associated with leaders of other extremist groups allied with al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the Taleban.

Michael Scheuer, former head of the CIA’s bin Laden unit, told The Times that catching Abd al-Hadi was important but that it did not spell the end of al-Qaeda.

He said Abd al-Hadi had been an important figure in developing al-Qaeda’s strategy in the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan and also helped to redirect its terrorist strategy in Europe.

Mr Scheuer, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation in Washington, said: “It is a blow for al-Qaeda, especially in Iraq, where it will have consequences.

“But al-Qaeda always plans for succession, and there will have been someone lined up to take his place. It is nonsense to think that al-Qaeda is dead.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article1717571.ece

Iraqi Polls

Polls are useful tools for the purpose of creating opinion more than measuring it - although they do say a great deal about ourselves.

Halliburton's Move About Iran???

There is going to be a great deal written and said about the movement of much of Halliburton senior executive structure to Dubai. These will range from the apologist claiming this is an indictment of the amount of regulations companies face in the United States to the escaping while the escaping is good theory. In truth, there is likely a number of reasons behind this, including the very real possibility that some of the theories connected with fringe elements might in fact have an element of truth.

After all there is no denying that one of their most important contacts within the US government is in fact leaving government service within the next two years and there is every reason to believe that the new leadership in the US Congress would like nothing better, despite ties of some of the hard lefts strongest allies investing in the Halliburton, than to go after an organization with such obvious ties to the administration. However, perhaps the answer is as much about business as it is politics. In particular international business and politics as much as the domestic realm.

In 2004, Halliburton came under a great deal of pressure over its contracts in relation with the government of Iran. At that time Halliburton finally gave in to a combination of pressure from stockholders, government officials, and the possibility that the position adopted in New York , (security based investing which is based on the concept of socially responsible investing used by the environmental movement) might spread making it very difficult for multinationals (in particular those in the energy sector) from doing business with such countries as Iran.

However, despite Halliburton’s assurance that they were pulling out of Iran, they continued to their operations inside Iran. Interestingly, these operations we maintained through their Dubai based subsidiary Halliburton Products & Services Limited, which has been their primary means of skirting sanctions on Iran.

Obviously, the Iran market does not represent enough of a single motivating factor, however when taken in to consideration with such other issues as the domestic political furry over the Dubai Port Worlds, rise of security as an issue in investing, and the very real possibility of other issues such as Sudan (Darfur), China (Human Rights) and Russia (political freedom) to name a few means that the reputation as the region’s criminal crossroads means that the relocation to Dubai will provide this company the freedom to deal with some of the worlds most unsavory regimes and individuals in this world.

Perhaps just as “war is nothing but the continuation of policy with other means” international business has become nothing more than war by other means in which the prize is not land but investment capital.

Iranian Covert Actions In Iraq

The following is a collection from open sources of indicators of the strategy that Iran has been pursuing inside Iraq since before the American liberation. Although I have not had time to update in almost a year I believe that this history is invaluable for understanding events as they unfold today and in the coming months. I am going to try to update this in the coming weeks as the evidence has only increased for the role that Iran has and continues to play in Iraq.

An earlier version of this was supplied to very senior government officials. I Post it here in hope that it will stimulate discussion and serve the national interest.

Briefing Note:

Updated as of January 17, 2005

Indicators of Iranian attempts to bring about a pro-Iranian Shi’a régime in Iraq

By Christopher Brown

February 11, 2003 – Osama Bin Laden in an audio tape which was broadcasted on Arab television advises the Iraqi’s to forget open battle with the US and instead seek a protracted insurgency in the cities.[1]

March 30, 2003 – The Iranian funded Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) headed by Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim and based in Iran “has deployed elements of its armed Badr Corps throughout Iraq in preparation for a fundamentalist revolution.”[2]

April 7, 2003 – Ayatollah Kadhem al-Husseini al-Haeri an Iraqi born cleric who has lived for the last 30 years in Iran and is a strong advocate of strict clerical rule sends a handwritten note to Shi’a clerics in Iraq appointing Muqtada al-Sadr as his official representative in Iraq.[3] There after al-Sadr’s official title would include representative of Ayatollah al-Haeri in Iraq.[4]

April 8, 2003 – Ayatollah al-Haeri issues a Fatwa from Qum, Iran ordering Iraqi Shiite clerical leaders to “seize as many positions as possible” with the intent of controlling post war Iraq and forming an Iranian style government.[5]

April 10, 2003 – Forces loyal to al-Sadr murder Ayatollah Abdel Majid al-Khoei in Najaf Iraq on his way to the Shrine of Imam Ali (Son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad). al-Khoei was an outspoken proponent of friendly relations with the west and son of the previous Grand Ayatollah for Iraq.[6] Along with al-Khoei, Imam Haider Raifee, whose family has acted as custodian of the shrine of Imam Ali for the last 400 years, was also murdered.[7]

April 12, 2003 – A mob of al-Sadr supporters surrounds the home of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani in Najaf and demands that he leave the country immediately.[8] al-Sistani a moderate and leader of the majority Shi’a in Iraq, favors the creation of a democracy, and had issued a Fatwa (edict) commanding his followers not to impede the coalition forces.[9] Ayatollah al-Sistani was a student of Abdel Majid al-Khoei father and succeeded him as Grand Ayatollah for Iraq. He is long time ally of the al-Khoei family.

April 15, 2003 – The Iranian linked SCIRI boycotts the first Coalition backed meeting in Iraq on setting up a transitional government.[10]

April 25, 2003 – Following the Fatwa of pro-Iranian Ayatollah al-Haeri, mullahs appointed by him as administrators within Iraq have been dispensing money, creating offices, and appointing their own clerics to run key cities throughout the country.[11]

May 2003 – From Iran Ayatollah al-Haeri announces his intention to return to Iraq in the near future. al-Haeri together with al-Sadr is committed to the establishment of an Iran system of clerical rule in Iraq.[12] [Editor Note: It is likely that when he arrives he will attempt to challenge al-Sistani for control of the religious seminary in Najaf and leadership of the Shi’a population]

May 18, 2003 –Abu Musab Zarqawi, who was receiving medical care in Baghdad following the fall of the Taliban, apparently fled to Iran prior to the liberation of Iraq.[13] Zarqawi is believed to be in charge of Ansar-al-Islam, which was based South of Al-Sulaymaniyah near the Iran-Iraq border.[14]

June 6, 2003 – Muqtada al-Sadr goes to Iran for the commemoration of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini. While there, he meets with Ayatollah al-Haeri,[15] and other clerics connected to the Iranian regime including the current chairmen of the Iranian Expediency Council Ayatollah Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.[16] Upon returning to Iraq it was reported that while in Qum, al-Sadr meet with Qasim Suleimani commander of the IRGC Quds forces [also known as the Jerusalem Force responsible for terrorism and covert action abroad] in Tehran, to arrange financial and other assistance for his followers in Iraq.[17]

June 2003 – It is reported that the Supreme Council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) has established a series of food distribution sites, medical clinics, and other social support centers in Baghdad and other major cities with supplies being trucked in from Iran. In addition, SCIRI backed “religious guidance officials” are visiting local schools, clerics are being sent into mosques, and its armed Badr Corps is providing security for these activities and their surrounding neighborhoods.[18]

June 9, 2003 – Documents from the Iraqi intelligence service entitled “Emergency Secret Plan” called for the loyal elements of Iraqi intelligence and military forces to blend into the general population and begin an insurgency campaign of bombings, attacks, assassination, and political action (including joining political parties). [19] (See February 11, 2003)

July 10, 2003 – The former head of U.S. CENTCOM General Tommy Franks told the House Armed Services Committee “We have our people ever day, not sitting in base camps, but rather out looking to find the Ba'athists, looking to find the jihadists, looking to find these people who cross the border from Syria and are hell-bent on creating difficulty, it's very difficult to say right now, our forces are on the lookout for them.”[20]

July 14, 2003 – Ayatollah al-Hakim informs the US that he will decide by Saturday July 19th if SCIRI will send his brother Abdel Aziz al-Hakim to serve as the SCIRI’s representative to the Coalition backed Governing Council.[21] [Editor Note: It should be noted that one of the members of the new governing council is Ibrahim al-Jaafari who represents the Daawa Islamic Party, which was founded by al-Sadr’s father]

July 16, 2003 – U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General John Abizaid told reporters that the terrorist group Ansar Al-Islam continues to be a problem for U.S. forces. “We don't know how they're infiltrating. There's some impression that they could be infiltrating from Iran,” Abizaid said, adding, “There's also [a] possibility that there were people that instead of moving away from the center of Iraq after they were hit, moved down into Baghdad.”[22]

July 18, 2003 – Ayatollah al-Hakim during his Friday sermon in Najaf says only that Governing Council has some “respected personalities”. Apparently, during the week he agreed to his brothers’ inclusion as the SCIRI representative.[23]

July 18, 2003 – al-Sadr during his Friday sermon in the great mosque in Kufa announced the formation of the “Mahdi Corps” a militia opposed to the Coalition forces and transitional government.[24] During the same sermon, al-Sadr announced his intention to create a parallel government to the coalition backed transitional council.[25]

July 29, 2003 – Reports from Iran indicate that Iran intends to open three consulates in Karbala, Basra, and Al-Sulaymaniyah, and the appointment of a military officer the next Iranian ambassador to Iraq. The most likely candidate at this time is Brigadier General Reza Seifullahi from the IRGC who was in charge of Iranian operations against Saddam’s Iraq. This would follow the same pattern in which the current Ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian[26] was previously in charge of assisting Iranian backed forces against the Taliban.[27]

August 7, 2003 – a car bomb explodes outside the Jordanian embassy killing 11 people. Al-Qaeda operatives from the Ansar al Islam group are suspected of being behind the attack. Ansar al Islam terrorists are believed to have crossed in to Iran from their camps south of Al-Sulaymaniyah near the Iran border during the war and have since moved back into Iraq.[28]

August 19, 2003 –A truck loaded with 1000 lbs. of military explosives is used to destroy part of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, killing at least 20 people including the head of the UN mission Sergio Vieira de Mello. It is widely reported that Al-Qaeda is behind the attack.[29] [See October 14^th 2003 for Iran-Al-Qaeda links]

August 21, 2003 – 12 Iranian intelligence officers were arrested in a currency exchange office in the Al-Salihiyah area when it was discovered that they were carrying counterfeited $50 bills. The officers were interrogated and it is reported that they were intending to conduct bombings in Baghdad. [30]

August 24, 2003 –Three Iraqi security guards are killed when a bomb explodes at the office of Ayatollah Muhammad Sa'id al-Hakim head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq, in Najaf in central Iraq.[31]

August 28, 2003 – A commander of the Iraqi border police at the Al-Munthiriya border crossing reports that the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and the Al-Da'wah al-Islamiyya (the political party founded by Muqtada al-Sadrs father) are assisting Iranian “travelers” who are posing as pilgrims crossing the border. It is also reported that those crossing the border are being charged $50 per person.[32]

August 29, 2003 –Ayatollah Muhammad Sa'id al-Hakim and at least 95 people were killed in an attack, which involved the use of two simultaneous car bombings outside of the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf Iraq. Four men, believed to be connected with Al-Qaeda, were detained within 24 hours. No arrests have been made in the other bombings.[33]

August 30, 2003 –Mohammed Baher al-Alum, first chairman of the Governing Council announced he was suspending his membership on the Council in protest of the Najaf attack.[34]

August 31, 2003 –Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary, at a Tehran memorial ceremony for Ayatollah al-Hakim blamed Israeli intelligence for the attack. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, blamed the occupation forces.[35]

September 2, 2003 –Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim brother of the Ayatollah Muhammad Sa'id al-Hakim the new de facto leader of Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its representative to the Governing Council demands that the US leave Iraq blaming the “occupation forces” for the death of his brother.[36]

September 2, 2003 –A car bomb explodes inside the Baghdad police headquarters resulting in the death of at least one and several injuries.[37]

September 12, 2003 – The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq confirmed that its armed Badr Corps has remained active despite the demands of the coalition that they demobilize.[38]

September 28, 2003 – According to published reports citing, a group opposed to the Iranian Regime, the National Council of Resistance in Iran (NCRI) hundreds of Iranian intelligence officers have infiltrated Iraq disguised as pilgrims and that potentially some of the translators currently employed by the U.S.-led administration in Iraq are working directly for the Iranian government. In addition, it is reported that members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp have deployed to al-Najaf under the cover of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI).[39]

October 5, 2003 – Abd al-Hakim Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraqi (SCIRI) travels to Tehran for five days of meetings with the government of Iran. Upon his arrival, al-Hakim states: “he has received invitations from ‘many countries,’ but, ‘… I preferred to visit Iran before visiting other countries.’”[40]

October 6, 2003 – Abd al-Hakim meets with President Khatami to discuss the Iraqi Governing Council. al-Hakim also met with Foreign Minister Kharrazi to discuss transferring supervision of Iraq over to the UN, and with Judiciary chief Hashemi-Shahrudi.[41]

October 7, 2003 – As of October 7^th, of 59 AM band broadcasts available in Baghdad 33 are originating from Iran including four in Arabic, one in Kurdish as well as the 7 hour daily transmission of the “Voice of Rebellious Iraq” from Ahvaz Iran. There are four FM band transmissions from Iran including the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq’s (SCIRI) “Voice of the Mujahedin” “Iranian Arabic radio service,” the youth targeted “Javan Radio,” and the “Voice of the Palestinian Islamic Revolution”. Additionally, there are also four Iranian TV channels available including Arabic-language Al-Alam news and the Tehran based SCIRI's Resistance Channel.[42] [This adds up to a total of 41 Iranian radio and television broadcasts to Iraq. As opposed to the Coalition backed Iraq Media Network which as of November 27^th had one television and two radio broadcasts]

October 7, 2003 – Abd al-Hakim meets with Supreme Leader Khamenei.[43]

October 7, 2003 – al-Hakim met with Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani to discuss the need for elections in Iraq as soon as possible.[44]

October 8, 2003 – It is reported that al-Hakim while meeting with Supreme Leader Khamenei in Tehran voiced his resentment over the support being directed by Supreme Leader Khamenei and the Quds forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to Muqtada al-Sadr. It is also reported that the Iranian government is pressuring al-Hakim to accept Ayatollah Ali al-Haeri as the replacement of his brother who was killed in late August as the religious leader of the SCIRI.[45]

October 9, 2003 – Two US soldiers are killed and four wounded in an ambush in which members of the al-Sadr paramilitary organization, which was formed by Muqtada al-Sadr in July, claimed responsibility.[46] The soldiers came under attack when they entered the predominant Shi’a area of Baghdad that was known as Saddam City prior to the war and has since been renamed “Sadr City” where a car bomb had killed 10 people earlier in the day.[47]

October 10, 2003 – Abd al-Hakim speaking at the Ahl al-Bayt seminar (a gathering of hundreds of Islamic scholars) in Tehran said “the people of Iraq have started a major battle to liberate their country from the domination of occupiers and remnants of Saddam’s régime.” At a news conference, held outside of the seminar al-Hakim discussed the efforts to “provide security” to “Iranian pilgrims”.[48]

October 10, 2003 – Iraqi Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi speaking on The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Voice of the Mujahedin radio based in Iran said; “We should know that most of the grievances Muslims are facing all over the world are caused by international oppression that is led by the United States and its henchmen,”[49]

October 11, 2003 – Muqtada al-Sadr during his Friday sermon in Kufa Iraq announces that he has formed a “Shadow Cabinet” and his own government in Iraq.[50] In addition to traditional ministries such as Interior, Justice, and Foreign Affairs, Abdel Hadi Daraji, an aid to al-Sadr said that there is a ministry for the "prevention of vice and promotion of virtue," whose rulings will be enforced by the Mahdi Corps militia.[51]

October 13, 2003 – Jalal Talabani member of the Governing Council and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) visits Tehran where he met with Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, President Khatami, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Hassan Rohani.[52]

October 14, 2003 – The Washington Post reported that Iran has been working with Al-Qaeda through the Quds/Jerusalem forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[53] Within the Iranian security system, the Quds fall directly under the command of Supreme Leader Khamenei and are responsible for coordination with about 36 other Islamic terrorist groups throughout the world.[54] Quds is currently headed by Qasim Suleimani who Muqtada al-Sadr met with during his trip to Tehran on June 6, 2003.[55] Qasim Suleimani and Quds forces support of al-Sadr and his followers including the Mahdi Corps militia was a point of discussion between Abd al-Hakim Chairmen of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, and Supreme Leader Khamenei during his recent trip to Tehran.[56]

October 23, 2003 – Sir Jeremy Greenstock, (U.K. special representative to Iraq) criticized Iran for its assistance to the Badr Corp and said that "There are elements in the Badr Corps who are malign and interested in using violence against the Coalition," ….[57]

October 27, 2003 – The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) announced its intention to direct their efforts towards the reconstruction of Iraqi with a focus on the security and military forces with the Badr Corp shouldering that portion of the SCIRI effort.[58]

October 30, 2003 – “An Iranian exile claims that he is in contact with an Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) defector who was involved in the late-August assassination of Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) leader Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" reported from London on 30 October. Former Ansar-i Hizbullah member Amir Farshad Ibrahimi said he recently received an e-mail from a member of the IRGC's special-operations unit -- the Qods Force -- requesting help to complete an escape from Iran; this individual is reportedly in an Eastern European country bordering Turkey.”

“The IRGC member claims he and a 10-man Qods Force hit squad were told that al-Hakim had backed away from calls for an Iraqi Islamic republic. The assassins had cover as radio and television correspondents and filmed al-Hakim for several days before killing him in Najaf with a car bomb, according to the source. In exchange for asylum in Iraq or another Arab state, the exile said, the IRGC member claimed that he would provide information about al-Hakim's murder, the 19 September bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad, and the 26 October attack on the Rashid Hotel in Baghdad.” [59]

November 4, 2003 – Forces connected to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) claim to have arrested five members of the Al-Qaeda allied group Ansar Al Islam. PUK sources claim that these are only a small part of a much larger force of approximately 500 Ansar Al Islam “sleeper agents” who have entered northern Iraq from Iran.[60]

November 14, 2003 – Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said in an US media interview that Israel has intelligence pointing to training by the Iranian financed Hezbollah, and other terrorist organization in Lebanon of foreign fighters who are then deployed to Iraq. In addition, Minister Mofaz said that members of Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups are entering Iraq through Syria.[61]

November 17, 18 2003 – Jalal Talabani founder and Secretary General of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leads an Iraqi delegation to Tehran where Interior Minister Abdolvahed Musavi-Lari offered Iranian assistance in “establishing and training a police force, in drafting a constitution, in running municipal governments, and in organizing a census.”[62] There was also an offer of Iranian assistance to the Iraqis on handling an increased flow of Iranian “pilgrims” into the country.[63]

November 24, 2003 – US and Arab officials have said that Hezbollah has and is continuing to establish a significant presence within Iraq. According to one American official familiar with the reports, this was a signal to the US from Iran that through Hezbollah they “can hurt us”.[64]

November 26, 2003 –The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq threatens to mobilize the streets against the Iraq Media Network (IMN) television which is being established with the assistance of the Coalition. Sadr al-Din al-Qabanji a representative of SCIRI said, “If you do not change your programs and submit to our will, we will mobilize the Iraqi street against you. We will resort to another method. We will mobilize the Iraqi street to defend Islam." SCIRI representatives said they would issue fatwa’s against IMN on grounds that the station is airing programs that the Shi'ite group views as indecent and immoral.[65]

November 27, 2003 – Adil Abd al-Mahdi a representative from the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq has been meeting the office of al-Sistani several times recently to discuss the transfer of power in Iraq.[66]

November 27, 2003 – On October 7^th of 59 AM band broadcasts available in Baghdad 33 are originating from Iran including four in Arabic, one in Kurdish as well as the 7 hour daily transmission of the “Voice of Rebellious Iraq” from Ahvaz Iran. There are four FM band transmissions from Iran This has now increased to 6 separate dedicated Arabic radio broadcasts originating from Iran. Additionally, now all Iranian broadcasts include Arabic programming directed at the Iraqi population. Furthermore, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq continues its broadcast activities from Tehran. There are also reportedly over 100 different newspapers now being published by various factions within Iraq.[67]

The Coalition supported Iraq Media Network has a total of one television station two radio stations and one newspaper[68] compared with 43 Iranian supported radio and television stations.

December 1-2, 2003 – Dr. Ahmad Chalabi a member of the Iraqi Governing Council visits Tehran where he meets with Expediency Council chairman Ayatollah Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, President Hojatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.[69]

December 6, 2003 – Dr. Ahmad Chalabi toured the Khosravi border crossing area and announced that it and the facilities near it and Qasr-i Shirin could handle increased flow of pilgrims from Iran.[70]

December 12, 2003 – Abd-al-Aziz Al-Hakim head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and Governor Hussein Khosh-Iqbal of Qasr-i Shirin in Iran signed an agreement to allow the daily travel of 3,000 Iranians into Iraq on religious pilgrimages through the Khosravi border crossing area.[71] This according to Jalal Talabani is to be followed up with another agreement in the coming months to allow up to 5,000 Iranian pilgrims per day.[72]

December 22, 2003 – After Leaving Hezbollah, the former Hezbollah Secretary-General Subih Tufaili, in and interview with the Lebanese Daily Star said, “Hezbollah has become a guard for Israel's border and [for] Iran Satan's servant….” Tufaili went on to say that Hezbollah is not independent and it takes orders from Tehran. “I cannot criticize Hezbollah without meaning Iran as well; the Iranian leadership has been and still is responsible for all of Hezbollah’s decisions on everything since the time we agreed with the late Imam Khomeini to build up the resistance movement.”[73]

January 14, 2004 – Muqtada al-Sadr’s representative in Kut Iraq, Abdul Jawad al-Issawi is collecting taxes and running his own court system. Al-Issawi “collects a Shiite religious tax called ‘khoms’ or ‘fifth,’ from well-to-do Kut residents and administers a court that sits once a month to settle domestic, property and inheritance disputes.” These activities are done in opposition to Coalition efforts in the area. This pattern is repeated in other areas of Iraq where al-Sadr holds sway and has appointed local clerics as his representative to be the local administrators.[74]

January 16, 2004 – Muqtada al-Sadr, in an interview with Beirut's Al-Manar television said that he might not be involved in the political process being established in Iraq. In the interview al-Sadr said "Let everybody know that I will not succumb to any party dissociated from the Iraqi people. If I quit [politics] for religious reasons, my heart remains with you, and my soul and body are ready to be sacrificed for you… Afterward, I will devote myself to other important matters. Although this might subject me to death or detention, this is what I actually aspire for.”[75]

January 19, 2004 – The Iraqi Governing Council's Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, who is chairman of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), arrived in Tehran on 15 January and met with President Hojatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, IRNA reported. Khatami reportedly told his guest that the most important activity is to make preparations for Iraqis' active role in creating their desired government.[76]

January 23, 2004 – There is increasing concern over the disparity of the economic impact resulting from the attacks on the oil facilities within Iraq. Of particular concern is that over 90% of the attacks on oil infrastructure have been occurring in the northern Kurdish regions. If this pattern continues, it could add tension between the Kurds in the north and the Shi’a in the south.[77]

January 26, 2004 – Sheikh Mithal al-Hasnawi, head of Muqtada al-Sadr’s operations in Karbala has established “committees for the Prohibition of Vice and Promotion of Virtue” which are policing Karbala, which they claim is in response to the increased flow of drugs from Iran into Iraq. These drugs are ostensibly being smuggled by Iranians entering the country posing as religious pilgrims.[78]

February 1, 2004 – Iran hosts Terrorist Ansar al-Islam, and Hizb Islami (both are believed to have ties with Al-Qaeda) were among the terrorist organizations from around the world who attended a 10 day conference labeled the Ten-Days of Dawn in Tehran. Other groups in attendance included Hezbollah, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, PFLP, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and various other Middle Eastern terrorist groups.[79]

February 1, 2004 – Simultaneous suicide attacks on the regional headquarters, in Irbil in Northern Iraq, of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), killed at least 56 people and wounded another 200. Both Kurdish parties blamed Ansar al-Islam for the attack.[80]

February 11, 2004 – The US doubles the reward to $10 million for information leading to the capture or death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, believed to be the head of Ansar al Islam. This, in response to an intercepted Al-Qaeda courier who had a letter believed to be from al-Zarqawi indicating the intention to start a civil war between the Sunni and the Shi’a in Iraq.[81]

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is believed to have been in charge of an Al-Qaeda associated terrorist training camp near Herat Afghanistan. Students of this camp received specialized training in the use of poison gas.[82] In 2003, he was believed to be the driving force behind the attacks in Turkey and Morocco.[83] Although his current whereabouts are unknown, he was last reported to be receiving refuge in Iran following the liberation of Iraq. (See: March 18, 2003)

February 14, 2004 – Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Ali Asghar Ahmadi has reportedly proposed that Iran and Iraq cancel the use of passports for travel between the two states. Speaking of the proposal, Ahmadi said "We want to create conditions in [the] future for Iranians and Iraqis to visit both countries without a passport." He added that since tens of thousands of Iranians are traveling to Iraq daily to visit the Shi'ite holy sites in Al-Najaf and Karbala, he hoped that citizens from both states could have the opportunity to travel between the two states using only an identification card.”[84]

February 15, 2004 – IGC members Shaykh Ghazi Ajil al-Yawir and Nasir Kamil al- Chadirchi told London-based ‘Al-Sharq al-Awsat’ “there are unpublicized alliances among the members of the council” and that their greatest worry is “Sectarian sedition … particularly since some neighboring countries or some regional and international forces are encouraging such sedition.”[85]

February 17, 2004 – During his recent visit to Iraq, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz reportedly received complaints from Iraqis about “the local militias, who owe no loyalty to the central government, are intimidating and frightening people”.[86]

February 18, 2004 – Over the last several months, several Ansar al Islam fighters have been captured as they cross from Iran into Iraq. One of these individuals was interviewed by the New York Times and explained that they had been ordered to northern Iraq to continue efforts at destabilization.[87] Ansar al Islam is suspected of being behind the attacks in Iraq on the UN compound, the Jordanian Embassy, and most recently the simultaneous attack on the Kurdish leadership.[88] Earlier in the month of February, Kurdish forces picked up seven Ansar members as they crossed over from Iran into Iraq. This party included a committee of Ansar al Islam members empowered by the group to release fatwa’s.[89].

February 20, 2004 – the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC) reportedly dispatched some 800 troops to northern Iraq to prevent infiltrators from entering the country from Iran. [90]

February 23, 2004 – Hadi al-Amiri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq's (SCIRI) armed wing, the Badr Corps, has said the organization should be allowed to play a greater role in maintaining security in Iraq…members are "tracking down the terrorist elements coming from abroad, in accordance with the law and in coordination with the Interior Ministry's services," al-Amiri said. "We have the capabilities and the experience, together with a good presence among the people, and this enables us to play a broad security role in Iraq." Al-Amiri said, however, that Badr's level of involvement in Interior Ministry activities is "limited." He also criticized the coalition's approach on security and said "the security issue would be resolved in a very effective manner if it were assigned to the Badr organization." The U.S.-led coalition had made several attempts to disarm Badr forces since taking power in Iraq last spring. SCIRI claims to have some 10,000 troops in the brigade.[91]

February 25, 2004 – Hoshyar Salih Hama Arif, a Kurdish member of the terrorist group Ansar Al-Islam has acknowledged links to Al-Qaeda and said "At the beginning, we tried to obscure our relationship with Al-Qaeda to dissociate ourselves from the U.S. list of wanted persons. However, when the Americans attacked us, we became no longer fearful of showing our association with Al-Qaeda."[92]

March 1, 2004 – Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim a member of the Iraqi Governing Council member and head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) called for an expansion of the Governing Council to include all parties and factions in Iraq. He also called on Iraqis to unite around the religious and political leadership…. Al-Hakim expressed his support for Islam to serve as the major source of reference in the country's constitution.[93]

March 2, 2004 – Hasan al-Zarkani, a spokesman Muqtada al-Sadr, said "Iraq is facing a serious conspiracy from inside and outside," Al-Zarkani suggested that the United States might be behind the attempts to destabilize Iraq. "The names they [the United States] are using, like [wanted terrorist Abu Mus'ab] al-Zarqawi and others, are only pretexts to cover this big lie through which they are trying to undermine Iraq's unity," al-Zarkani said. Asked whether the terrorists are seeking to ignite a civil war in Iraq, al-Zarkani said: "There is a definite intention for this. They want to trigger sectarian feuds and a civil war by all means."[94]

March 2, 2004 – Nine explosions rocked the Shi'ite city of Karbala on 2 March at two entrances to the city as some 2 million Muslims gathered to commemorate the Ashura holy day. It was later verified that three of the blasts came from suicide bombers, one was a land mine, and five came from carts loaded with mines and explosive charges. At approximately the same time At least three explosions were heard outside the Al-Kadhimiyah Mosque in Baghdad.[95]

March 3, 2004 – SCRI’s al-Hakim claims that three bomb attacks were prevented in the Shi'ite holy city of Al-Najaf in the previous 24-hour period. He then blamed the United States for not providing enough security in Iraq, and for not allowing Iraqis to "defend themselves properly." Al-Hakim has repeatedly called for a greater role for SCIRI's Badr Corps.[96]

March 4, 2004 – General John Abizaid tells the US Senate Armed Services Committee that an active Badr Corps would “be a destabilizing event” in Iraq.[97]

March 8, 2004 – Grand Ayatollah Al Sistani’s London office releases a Fatwa dated February 6^th declaring illegal entry or smuggling of others into Iraq to be prohibited by Islam. [98]

March 14, 2004 – In response to the attacks within Karbala, the coalition announced that they would seek close to 16 of the 19 official Iraqi border crossings with Iran. Additional security precautions will also be added at a faster rate first along the Iran-Iraq border then along the Iraq-Syria border. In addition, the coalition will work to double the number of border police.[99]

March 14, 2004 – US officials acknowledge that they are detaining at least 150 individuals who were in possession of foreign passports when they were captured.[100]

March 15, 2004 – Patriotic Union of Kurdistan uncovered a plot by Ansar al-Islam to carry out a series of suicide bombings in northern Iraq, including Al-Sulaymaniyah on March 21^st during celebrations of the Kurdish New Year. Reportedly as part of the breaking up this plot, security officials seized a vehicle with 10 suicide bomb vests.[101]

March 26, 2004 – Muqtada al-Sadr labeled himself the “striking arm”[102] of Hamas and Hezbollah in Iraq during his Friday sermon.[103]

March 27, 2004 – It is reported that the religious parties in Iraq, Daw’a, the Supreme Council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), Hezbollah, the Sadr Foundation and others are politically outmaneuvering secular democratic parties. In part the result of the social services which they have established independent of the coalition and governing council, but, it is also a result of their armed wings being able to provide security in the neighborhoods they are active in.[104]

March 31, 2004 – Hamas and Hezbollah have established offices in Basra and Nasariyah, from which the organizations are recruiting, including paying small sums of money, and indoctrinating young men. In addition, Hezbollah is engaging in the same types of social programs that they have used effectively in Lebanon to create a base of political support.[105]

April 3, 2004 – A Former Iranian intelligence officer, known as “Hajj Saeedi”, who was in charge of the Iraqi file, describes the extent of the Iranian covert efforts in Iraq to the Al-Sharq-al Awsat in London. Part of the plan, which is being directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Intelligence and Quds Corps, involved the infiltration of hundreds of officers and agents into Kurdish areas before the war, and hundreds more since under the guise of pilgrims, students, clerics, or as members of Shi’a militia such as the Badr Brigades.

Additionally, Hajj explained that the most successful operation to date was the assassination of Ayatollah al-Hakim. However, a similar attempt on Sistani failed when he was warned not to meet with certain students or clerics from Iran, during the 2003 festival of Id.

As part of its effort to ensure the defeat of democracy in Iraq, the government of Iran has spent about $1 billion in the last year and now is spending an estimated $70 million per month, including $5 million that is going to religious schools throughout the country. Apparently, 2,700 houses, apartments, or rooms, are being leased by Iran in Karbala and Najaf for the Iranian agents and their collaborators. However, the Iranian efforts are not limited just to the Shi’a strong holds, but are dispersed throughout the country from Al Sulaymaniyah in the north to Basra in the south with major offices in at least 14 cities. Part of the overall plan is to incite violence between the Turkoman Shi’a in the north against the Kurds. (See February 11, 2004)

In addition, many among the youth are being recruited to establish a base for the upcoming parliamentary elections or to run the extensive social programs that mirror Iran’s actions in Lebanon.

When asked why Iran was doing this, Hajj, responded “We are today moving our battle with the US [which was started in Lebanon in the early 1980’s] into Iraq so that they will recognize our role [in Iraq the way they did in Lebanon].[106]

April 4, 2004 – A group of Shi’a clerics from the Najaf seminary criticizes the paramilitary forces of al-Sadr, for their attacks on civilians in Najaf. The statement, said that “after tortured, the citizens were taken… to religious courts where they were given summary trials and sentences by the al-Sadr forces.”[107]

April 4, 2004 – Thousands of paramilitary supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr attacked coalition forces in four cities including Najaf.[108] [Editors note: This began a series of armed and political conflicts continuing to the present and revealing one facet of Iran’s covert actions in Iraq.]

April 5, 2004 – Iranian Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs has stated that Iran is prepared to send 10,000 pilgrims a day into Iraq, and has offered to assist in the education of Iraqi police officers, and the protection of government officials.[109]

April 5, 2004 – Paramilitary supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr continue to clash with Coalition and Iraqi security forces and seized some government buildings in Iraq. In addition, an Iraqi Judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Al-Sadr for the April 10^th 2003 murder of Ayatollah Abdel Majid al-Khoei.[110]

April 6, 2004 – In Lebanon, Hezbollah and its spiritual leader Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah condemned the US actions against Al-Sadr and his forces in Iraq.[111]

April 6, 2004 – Hamid Reza Asefi, Foreign Minister of Iran, called upon the United States to immediately leave Iraq.[112]

April 6, 2004 – It is reported that since June 2003 at the Munthriya border crossing, east of Baghdad 1 of 19 official crossing points on the Iran-Iraq border, the guards have detained 60,000 foreigners trying to enter illegally into Iraq from Iran. The ethnic composition of those detained included Iranian, Syrian, Saudi Arabian, Tajiks, and Chechen; however over half of those detained have been Pakistani and Afghani.[113]

April 6, 2004 – Iran is reopening its Hajj and Pilgrimage offices in Karbala to assist “pilgrims” from Iran in making arrangements for housing, food, and travel from Iran and within Iraq.[114]

April 6, 2004 – Al Sharq Al Awsat (London) reports that there was a meeting entitled “Islamic Movement and Iraq” in which of all major Shi’a movements from Europe and the Middle East, including representatives from Al Sadr, and Sunni Islamist movements currently in Iraq, met in an islamic center in London on March 13^th and 14^th where it was decided that the Shi’a would begin their confrontation with the United States, and that there would be three steps to this. 1. speed up the recuritment of Shiites into armed resistance movements, 2. avoid any armed Shi’a v. Sunni violence for the period after the July 1^st handover of sovereignty 3. establish a régime modeled after the previous islamic experiences in democracy to eliminate western justification for intervention.[115] [Editor’s note: This final point is most likely referring to the Iranian style pseudo democratic régime.]

April 7, 2004 – Dawa party leader and governing council member Ibrahim al-Ja’fari while meeting in Tehran with the Iranian Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, said, “We insist on the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq and the region.”[116]

April 9, 2004 – A former member of the al-Quds force, who was active inside Iraq, described the existence of three training camps in or near the Iranian cities of Qasr-e Shhirin, Ilam, and Hamid on the Iranian side of the Iran Iraq border where the Quds force has trained 800-1,200 members of al-Sadr’s paramilitary units in guerilla warfare tactics.

In addition, the Quds forces have also provided al-Sadr and his supporters with radio and television transmission equipment which has been positioned in the cities where al-Sadr operates. Also, the Iranian embassy in Baghdad has reportedly provided al-Sadr and his supporters in the Baghdad suburbs of al-Kazimiyah, al-Sadr city, and the city of Najaf, with 400 satellite phones. This and other material support which has been provided is in addition to the more then $80 million dollars which has been given to al-Sadr over the last few months to finance his operations. Part of this operation includes the presence of Ali al-Ha’iri, son-in-law of Ayatollah Ali Meshkini who heads the Assembly of experts in Iran, who is in Najaf with the job of providing salaries to the students, and Clerics in favor of establishing an Iranian style government in Iraq.

Reportedly, part of the overall strategy of Tehran is to begin using the clerics and students within the Islamic schools in concert with the TV and Radio transmission equipment to begin a campaign to undermine and discredit the standings of Shi’a religious leaders who oppose the Iranian style government such as Al-Sistani.[117]

April 9, 2004 – Ayatollah Kadhem al-Haeri, who lives in Iran is the religious authority under which al-Sadr operates and is the Iranian choice to be the next spiritual leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, was one of two official teachers of the current Iranian Supreme Leaders Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei, and is the one who presented Khamenei with his degree in ijtihad (jurisprudence). This degree is the basis for Khamenei religious authority by which he uses to run the Iranian government.[118]

April 10, 2004 – Members of the Governing Council have decided to back the proposal by Muhsin al-Hakim the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), that in exchange for al-Sadr disbanding his paramilitary forces, and surrender himself to Iraqi forces, he will not be held to answer for the murder warrant until after the hand over of sovereignty and then only before an Iraqi court. In announcing this plan, al-Hakim also demanded once again that the coalition allow the armed militias and the Governing Council to have more of a say over security matters inside Iraq.[119]

April 11, 2004 – al-Sadr is reportedly seeking political asylum inside Iran. [120]

April 14, 2004 – Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi announced that the United States has requested the aid of Iran in defusing the current crisis in Iraq. A senior state department official did acknowledge that the United Kingdom had invited an Iranian delegation to Iraq however, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher denied that the US made any requests of the Iranian government but did acknowledge a recent dispatch of messages to Iran.[121]

April 14, 2004 – Supreme leader Khamenei, in a speech in Tehran said, “Sooner or later the Americans will leave Iraq in wretchedness and humiliation.”, and that the Iraqi people can facilitate this by heeding the clerical authorities. [122]

April 15, 2004 – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, said “‘We know for a fact’ that Syrian and Iranian insurgents are crossing the border into Iraq to destabilize the situation.”[123]

April 15, 2004 –Khalil Naimi, first secretary of the Iranian embassy, was shot and killed near the Iranian embassy in Baghdad.[124] This attack is not believed to be related to the presence of an Iranian foreign ministry delegation headed by Hussein Sedeqi, that is visiting Najaf to see if they can “defuse” the stand off with Al-Sadr. [125]

April 15, 2004 –Reportedly, a “Special Committee”, which was established by Supreme leader Khamenei within his office following the collapse of the Saddam government, suspended operations earlier this month for the time being. This committee is chaired by Ali Agha Muhammadi who was a special advisor to Khamenei, and assistant head of the Iranian Radio and Television network. The other members of the committee included Muhammad Baqir Du al-Qadr (Assistant head of the Revolutionary Guard Corps), General Kassim Sulaymani (Commander of the Quds Force), General Murtada Rada’i (Head of Intelligence for the Revolutionary Guard Corps), and Hassan Kazimi Qummi (Former Assistant Head of the Revolutionary Guard corps, and current charge d’affaire for Iran in Iraq [the de-facto Iranian ambassador]). This organization has been in charge of the planning and oversight of activities aimed at destabilizing Iraq and creating an Islamic revolution.

The committee reportedly suspended its activities following a warning from Washington through a British contact that United States had enough evidence to punish Iran and take strong measures against the country unless it stopped its activities and started to play a more constructive role including, shutting down al-Sadr and his organization, and provide aid in neutralizing Ansar-al-Islam and al-Qaeda inside Iraq.

This Special Committee has supposedly suspended finanical aid to al-Sadr, banned the crossing of their borders by members of Ansar-al-Islam and other groups, and ceased actions against Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani. This warning apparently aided President Khatami, who has been at odds with Ayatollah Khamenei over the best approach towards Iraq. Khatami has been one of the more vocal advocates for providing greater aid to The Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and other such activities rather then funding al-Sadr.

Apparently, during this same Special Committee meeting it was also decided to send Hussein Sedeqi on a mission to Iraq. Hussein Sedeqi, is the director of the Persian Gulf Department of the Iranian foreign ministry, has served as an ambassador to Kuwait, the UAE, and is an expert on Iraq.[126]

April 15, 2004 – Supreme leader Khamenei has reportedly ordered President Khatami to fire his interior minister, Abd-al-Wahid Mussawi Lari and the Economy Minister, Tahmabasib Madahiri because of their refusal to transfer $1 billion in hard currency to the al-Wali al-Faqih (just jurisconsult) office to cover the expenses of operations in Lebanon, Iraq, and some African nations.[127]

[Editors Note: al-Wali al-Faqih is the ideology of the Iranian dictatorship in which the Clerics rule. This is also the organization that is in part responsible for providing the funds to Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and other organizations.[128]]

April 17, 2004 – The Iranian foreign ministry delegation headed by Hussein Sedeqi, ended its visit to Iraq, without meeting with al-Sadr, or going into Najaf. However, this delegation did meet with Dawa party officials, the leadership of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), Shi’a clerics, and representatives of al-Sadr.[129]

April 18, 2004 – Dawa party officials have offered to mediate between the US and Al Sadr.[130] (It should be noted that Dawa was founded by Al-Sadr’s father and is known to have received support from Iran.)

April 19, 2004 –Iraqi militias, such as the SCIRI Badr Brigade, are operating illegal ports near Basra along the Shatt al-Arab waterway to funnel contraband from Iran into southern Iraq.[131]

April 19, 2004 – In an interview on al-Arabiyah satellite television, Ahmad al-Shahwani, the spokesman of al-Sadr’s organization stated that the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq’s (SCIRI) Badr Brigades are coordinating activities with the al-Sadr paramilitary groups including organizing and manning checkpoints in Najaf.[132]

April 21, 2004 – Three near simultaneous car bombs exploded outside Iraqi police stations in the southern city of Basra.[133] (See April 19, 2004)

April 22, 2004 – Muhsin al-Hakim the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), denied any connections between his organization, including its armed Badr Brigades, and Iran. This in spite of the fact that the SCIRI operated from Iran for 22 years, and has its radio and television broadcast studios in Tehran. He also went on to say that Iran is playing a very positive role in Iraq and called for the deportation of Mojahedin-e Khalq (MKO) and other groups opposed to the current Iranian government as well as an increase in the number of Iranian pilgrims allowed to enter Iraq.[134]

April 22, 2004 – Khalil Naimi who was shot near the Iranian embassy, was reportedly killed by former members of Iraqi intelligence on behalf of Mojahedin-e Khalq (MKO), in retaliation for Naimi directing members of Al-Sadr’s paramilitary group to assassinate eight leaders of the MKO in the Ashraf camp.

Reportedly, Khalil Naimi in addition to being the first secretary in the Iranian embassy was also the head Islamic Revolutionary guard corps intelligence regional directorate in Iraq. He was known to have close ties with the Supreme Council for the Islamic revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and its armed wing the Badr Brigades even before his assignment to Iraq. In addition, he was in charge of providing the funds to Al-Sadr’s organization, and apparently met with representatives of SCIRI and Al-Sadr on his first day inside Iraq. He was also apparently behind a failed plot to use Shi’a Turkomen to assassinate Abdallah Hasan Zadeh, head of the Iranian Kurdish Democratic Party, who is currently living inside Iraq.[135]

April 22, 2004 – Haydar al-Shammari, a former member of Iraqi Intelligence, disclosed that prior to the war he was involved under the direction of Col. Abu-Wa’il in the movement of Al-Qaeda members from Afghanistan through Jordan and Syria into the Al Sulaymaniyah region of northern Iraq where they joined with Ansar al- Islam. Included in these members of Al-Qaeda were experts in explosives, car bombs, and chemical weapons.[136]

April 28, 2004 – Reportedly Iran is negotiating with the government of the UK for the return of Ayatollah Kadhem al-Husseini al-Haeri to Iraq from Iran. This is the second time that Iran has tried to get the UK to allow al-Haeri to return to Iraq through the UK controlled region of Iraq. This time he is offering to bring Muqtada al-Sadr under control. [137]

Al-Haeri was a rival for funding and support from Iran with Ayatollah al-Hakim and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.[138] However, since the death of al-Hakim (see August 29, 2003) he has been the Iranian choice to be the spiritual leader of SCIRI (see October 8, 2003 and April 3, 2004). He is also the religious authority by which al-Sadr operates in Iraq (see April 7, 2003).

April 29, 2004 – A Pentagon intelligence report has concluded that many of the bombings and more sophisticated attacks going on inside Iraq are the work of an organization known as M-14 or “the Special Operations and Antiterrorism Branch” of Iraqi intelligence, and that many of the attacks were planed before the fall of Baghdad.[139] (See June 9, 2003)

May 1, 2004 – Statements by a group calling itself “al-Mujahidin Brigades”, which are apparently a mix of “Arab fighters” and “Kurdish members of Ansar-al-Islam” are being circulated around Baghdad warning residents to stay indoors because they are about to bring the “fire of resistance” to the neighborhoods of Baghdad. In similar statements they claim to be active in Ramadi, Khalidiyah, and Fallujah as well as offering their support to al-Sadr and his paramilitary force. Additional statements from the “Martyrs Brigades of Hamas” made mention of returning the favors shown to them by Iraq in fighting the coalition.[140]

May 8, 2004 – Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, in Tehran called for Islamic nations to create a union, and to “neutralize the hostile conspiracies [against Islam]”. [141]

May 10, 2004 – Iran is sending 100 trucks with cargo through the Shalamcheh border crossing per day. Ali Farsani of the Khorramshahr provincial governors office, noted, that there are no restrictions on the export of goods to Iraq.[142]

May 10, 2004 – Moqtada al Sadr has ordered his paramilitary forces to launch a broad offensive against the US and coalition forces. This at the same time as there are reports of Shi’a militia forces joining up with Sunni armed forces in northern and in western Iraq.[143]

May 12, 2004 – The new US appointed governor in Najaf has offered to defer charges against al-Sadr, until after the hand over of sovereignty if al-Sadr will disband his paramilitary forces. al-Sadr responded by demanding that the US authorities deal directly with him. He said that he would tell his fighters to stop fighting if, “if the occupation forces officially request negotiations, provided that they are just and honorable and under the supervision of religious authorities.”. At the same time Ayatollah Kadhem al-Haeri continued to publicly distance himself from al-Sadr while offering to use his influence over al-Sadr to get him to disband his paramilitary groups. [144] (See April 10, 2004)

May 17, 2004 – Khamenei's remarks, made in a speech to theology students and broadcast on Iranian radio, contained harsh criticism issued about the US operations against the paramilitary forces of al-Sadr who it is reported receives financial, political, and material support from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) and Iranian Intelligence under the direction of Khamenei. Shortly after Khamenei spoke, about 100 students threw rocks at the British Embassy in Tehran and burned the British and Israeli flags.[145]

May 28, 2004 – The Iranian Intelligence services have established a special unit to recruit suicide bombers around the world and "dispatch them to Iraq, Palestine, and Lebanon," the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported Friday. The head of "The Martyrs of the Resurrection of Worldwide Islam," which replaces a unit in the IRGC known as the "department for the revolutionary freedom movements," has been assigned the task of registering the names of suicidal volunteers from all over the Arab and Islamic world.[146]

May 28, 2004 – Hezbollah/Iran activist Forouz Rajaii-Far reportedly said that "martyrdom operations are the only option to expel the Americans and British from Iraq," and that a Basij activist from Elm Vasonaat University in Iran acknowledged that a group calling itself the "To Karbala Battalion" was sent on May 27, 2004 to Karbala to fight the coalition forces.[147]

May 28, 2004 – In a speech by an individual identified as “H.A.” which was most likely Hasan 'Abbasi, the director of the Center for Doctrinal Studies of Security Across Frontiers, and an Imam within the IRGC at the Revolutionary Guards' Al-Hussein University spoke to the students who are members of the Ansar-e Hezbollah or “Movement of Hezbollah (Party of God) Supporters” of Tehran's secret strategy aimed at taking over the Arab and Muslim countries by means of helping revolutionary forces and organizations. H.A. is regarded as one of the advisors of a branch in the organization, and has published a number of works on exporting the Islamic revolutionary ideology and the method of the struggle against the west.

At one point HA singled out the UK for special attention when he said, “We do not want to control the British Embassy, [a reference to Iranian take over of the US embassy in the late 1970’s] the as they (the British) have emptied the embassy of its documents, we have to control Britain...” in addition H.A. said, “Our missiles are now ready to strike at their civilization, and as soon as the instructions arrive from Leader ['Ali Khamenei], we will launch our missiles at their cities and installations. Our motto during the war (in Iraq) was: Karbala, we are coming, Jerusalem, we are coming. And because of Khatami's policies and dialogue between the civilizations, we have been compelled to freeze our plan to liberate the Islamic cities. And now we are [again] about to carry out the program.”[148]

Editors Note: Hasan 'Abbasi, in his position as the director of the Centre for Doctrinal Studies of Security Across Frontiers would be one of the chief architects and ideologues for strategic operations aimed at spreading the Iranian Ideology of al-Wali al-Faqih.

June 2, 2004 – At a meeting of Ansar-e Hezbollah entitled “General Staff for Glorification of Martyrs of the Global Islamic Campaign to recruit ‘martyrdom seekers’” Mehdi Kuchekzadeh, a Tehran council deputy, spoke on “the martyrdom culture” and “declared his readiness to become a martyr”. At the same meeting General Salami, deputy commander of operations at the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Joint Chiefs of Staff Headquarters, appeared in full military uniform. And declared that the "Global Arrogance [of the US and its allies] would come to its knees in the face of martyrdom operations, despite its technological superiority."

Hasan 'Abbasi, said “The West needs to know that we cannot stop our youth, and there will remain no security for the Jewish and Christian worlds . . . We will not and cannot stop the disruption of the present order.” Before leaving Hasan 'Abbasi reportedly filled out the application form to become a martyr.

IRGC General Sa'id Qasemi and Iranian islamic-jurist Hojjat ol-Eslam Hamid Sabzevari also address addressed the gathering. Sabzevari spoke on the “religious basis and justification for seeking martyrdom.”

Mohammad 'Ali Samadi, was the organizer of this campaign and spokesman for Ansar-e Hizballah, characterized the organization as being “‘global’ in nature, embracing ‘all Islamic movements and both Shia and Sunni Muslims,’”.[149]

Editors Note: This organization is in fact Ansar-e Hezbollah which was originally formed by the IRGC and other hardline elements in 1995 to assist in the suppression student organizations. They are known to regularly use violence including the attacks in 1999 on demonstrators in Tehran. This organization appears to have taken on additional international duties when in February 2002 they began their first effort to openly recruit individuals willing to be suicide bombers within Western Nations.

June 4, 2004 – A brigadier general in the guards lauded the effectiveness of "martyrdom operations," citing the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States as tactical operations that produced far-reaching strategic results, according to Iranian media accounts. But any formal link between the Revolutionary Guard and the Army of Martyrs is denied by both the government and Samadi.[150]

June 4, 2004 – Ahmed Chalabi, the Iraqi politician suspected by U.S. authorities of having told Iran this spring that its secret communications code had been broken, was involved in an intercept episode nine years ago, according to senior administration officials.[151]

June 4, 2004 – In a Friday sermon on April 9, delivered at Tehran University amid shouts of “Death to America, Death to Israel,” Expediency Council head Hashemi Rafsanjani said: “The present situation in Iraq represents a threat as well as an opportunity… It is a threat because the wounded American beast can take enraged actions, but it is also an opportunity to teach this beast a lesson so it won't attack another country.”.

Iraqi police have reportedly arrested many Iranians who are ostensibly pilgrims but, in reality, are intelligence operatives. The newspaper estimates the number of Iranian agents operating in Iraq at 14,000.

The rotating chairman of the Iraqi Governing Council, Muhsin Abd Al-Hamid said Iraq has authorized the visit by 1000-2000, but in fact 10,000 Iranians cross the borders daily. According to Iraqi estimates 10 percent of the 5 million Iranian visitors have managed to register as Iraqis and are able to vote in future elections.[152]

June 15, 2004 – Iran reportedly is readying troops to move into Iraq if U.S. troops pull out, leaving a security vacuum. The Saudi daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, monitored in Beirut, reports Iran has massed four battalions at the border. Al-Sharq al-Awsat quoted "reliable Iraqi sources" as saying, "Iran moved part of its regular military forces towards the Iraqi border in the southern sector at a time its military intelligence agents were operating inside Iraqi territory."[153]

June 19, 2004 – al-Sadr enjoys a massive following among the poorer elements of Iraq's Shiite community a recent nationwide poll ranked him second in popularity out of a list of 17 top people in Iraq as indicated in a recent poll conducted by the Iraqi Center for Research and Strategic Studies. This poll found that al-Sadr an average 33.6 approval rating, placing him second only to Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the pre-eminent Shiite cleric in Iraq. The poll found that Sadr was "strongly supported" by 31.8 percent of those asked and "somewhat supported" by 35.4 percent.[154]

June 19, 2004 – An Iraqi military official has accused Iran of providing facilities for the bombing of the Iraqi oil pipeline and announced the Iraqi authorities' capture of what he called a captain from Lebanon's Hizballah who had entered Iraq through Iran. He also confirmed information that "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" published last Tuesday about Iran massing its troops on the border with Iraq.

The official, who was speaking to "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" from his office in Baghdad yesterday, said the Iranian authorities helped the entry of dozens of the saboteurs who are carrying out acts of sabotage inside Iraq and added: "We arrested in Al-Diwaniyah city a captain from Lebanon's Hizballah who carried three identity cards, one of them issued by a known Iraqi party that allows him to travel freely inside Iraq. This captain threw a grenade at the Spanish forces and wounded five soldiers. He confessed that it was the Iranian authorities that facilitated his entry into Iraq through Iran and that many others like him had entered Iraq in this way."

He pointed out that the Iranians "know they cannot cross the border and enter into Iraqi territories but are using these forces to pressure the interim Iraqi Government on one hand and to send on the other hand a message to their elements inside Iraq telling them we are here."[155]

June 22, 2004 – Khamenei recently named a retired IRGC chief to head state television and radio, one of the most powerful positions in government, which is responsible for both internal and external propaganda efforts by the regime including the broadcasts into Afghanistan and Iraq.[156]

June 23, 2004 – A source close to the IRGC command has disclosed to "Al-Sharq al-Awsat" the real reasons and motives for the seizure of three British gunboats in Shatt al-Arab and the detention of their crew by the Guards' naval forces on Monday…the message was simple: Release our colleagues you are holding and we will release your soldiers. The source added that the Guards command became deeply worried when the Ukrainian forces operating in Iraq arrested 40 suicide-bombing volunteers because they were the first group of those who had enlisted in the Organization for Honoring the Martyrdom-Seekers (munazzamat takrim al-istishhadiyin) that was founded recently by Brigadier General Dhou al-Qadr…the Ukrainian units had handed over the suicide-bombing volunteers to the British forces operating in Iraq.[157]

July 5, 2004 – Iraqi officials reportedly arrested two Iranian nationals who were trying to detonate a car bomb in a town east of Baghdad.[158]

July 5, 2004 – Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States Monday that any attack on the Islamic republic's interests would be met with a global response. “If the enemy attacks our scientific, natural, human or technological interests, the Iranian people will cut off its hand without hesitation and place in danger the interests of the aggressor everywhere in the world,” he told a gathering in the western city of Hamedan.[159]

July 5, 2004 – After temporarily closing the Khosravi border for the passage of pilgrims, the governor of Qasr-e Shirin announced the reopening of the border for pilgrim groups to perform hajj and visit holy places. Hoseyn Khosheqbal told the correspondent of the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA): We have made the necessary arrangements to send 5,000 people daily via the Khosravi border…The interior minister Abdolvahed Musavi-Lari announced yesterday that three borders crossings of the Iran-Iraq border were opened and only the Mehran border had been closed for 20 days due to construction work on the Iraq side.[160]

July 6, 2004 – The two individuals captured by American and Iraqi joint patrols, along with U.S. Special Operations teams on July 5^th trying to detonate a car bomb, have identified themselves as Iranian intelligence officers. This is only one aspect of the Iranian operations that include using money to influence Iraq Shiite political factions.

Iraqis in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf have expressed suspicions that offices set up by Iranians ostensibly charged with dispensing charity or providing assistance to Shiite pilgrims are really there to provide support to the Iranian government agents in the region.[161]

July 7, 2004 – General Salami deputy commander of operations at the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Joint Chiefs of Staff Headquarters, said “As you see, the explosion of the two World Trade Center towers divided history to before and after [Sept. 11]. And with this minor incident, policy of the United States and other world and regional powers changed,” General Salami reportedly added that, “the Americans now know that the Muslims with tendencies for suicide missions have acquired new technology and have technological capabilities which have caused more fear for them.”

In a closing speech entitled, "Suicide Operations: The Last Resort," a top Revolutionary Guards official, Hassan Abbassi, tried to rationalize Iran's support of terrorism. "If Muslims create fear in the heathen world, this fear is sacred; it is not terrorism or violence," he said according to the Sharq account. Last month at the Technical College of Teheran, Mr. Abbassi said: "We have identified some 29 weak points for attacks in the US and in the West. We intend to explode some 6,000 American atomic warheads. We have shared our intelligence with other guerrilla groups and we shall utilize them as well."[162]

July 7, 2004 – Radio transmissions from Iran in Arabic, as well as Persian, can still be heard in Baghdad, according to a 28 June survey. The audibility of the 22 channels originating in Iran varies from poor to good, but Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's Arabic-language services are consistently good, as is the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq's (SCIRI) Voice of the Mujahedin, which transmits from Iran in Arabic.[163]

July 7, 2004 – Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Commander Brig-Gen Yahya Rahim-Safavi has said: Members of the Basij (mobilization force) must be armed with necessary readiness in line with our strategy of comprehensive defense against the enemy who has come from outside the region.[164]

July 7, 2004 – In the Persian daily Mardomsalari an article appears stating that Syria and Iran consider the US to be their common enemy and that Basher Al-Assad’s régime wishes to form a common and unified stance with Iran against the United States[165]

July 12, 2004 – During his talks with Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Iranian backed SCIRI, and Iran's Hashemi-Rafsanjani, Al-Hakim said the Iraqi government "is a positive step" toward regaining Iraqi sovereignty…During his talks with Iraq's Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim, Iran's Khatami said putting an end to "occupation" in Iraq will be in the interest of Iraqis, the region, and the occupiers.[166]

July 13, 2004 – Shi'i leader Abd-al-Aziz al-Hakim says Iran faithful defender of Iraqi people during Tehran news conference. He says Iran is not interfering in Iraqi politics.[167]

July 13, 2004 – Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), met in Tehran on 12 July with Supreme National Security Council Secretary Hojatoleslam Hassan Rohani. Rohani told the visitor that Iran wants to continue to have good relations with Iraq and added that Iran is ready to assist in development of Iraq's trade sector. Rohani said Iraq will be truly independent only when its occupiers leave.

Al-Hakim later told reporters that Iran has not interfered in Iraqi affairs and it has actually provided a great deal of assistance. He said some people do not want Iran and Iraq to have good relations. Turning to the Iranian opposition Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), which was hosted in Iraq by former President Saddam Hussein, al-Hakim said that Baghdad wants to expel its members from the country. The problem, he said, is that the United Nations sees the MKO members as refugees.[168]

July 13, 2004 – A suspected Saudi al Qaeda militant, who had appeared in a videotape with Osama bin Laden, was flown back to Saudi Arabia from Iran after he surrendered under a Saudi offer of amnesty. Khaled al-Harbi, also known as Abu Suleiman al-Makki, had been on the Iranian-Afghan border when he contacted Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran in response to the amnesty offer. Harbi was not among Saudi al Qaeda militants believed to be in Iranian custody. Iran is holding several al Qaeda suspects but has not revealed their identities or nationalities.[169]

July 14, 2004 – Iranian Revolutionary Guards Political Bureau head General Yadollah Javani recently wrote in a veiled threat directed at the West, "Today we enjoy high deterrent ability, and if the enemy acts in madness and wants to try his luck, he will, as the leader said, quickly see his black fate, and will regret acting against Iran's Islamic regime. To deal with the invader, Iran will use all its capabilities within and outside Iran. It seems to me that in his [Hamedan] speech, the leader was referring to the use of all means of force, as Iran has in its possession all means of force on the highest level.”

[Other recent threats include:] 1. The recruitment and training of thousands of Iranian volunteers by Iran's Revolutionary Guards for suicide attacks against Western, European, and U.S. targets in Iraq, and their dispatch to Iraq. 2. Resumption of Iran's project for long-range Shihab 4 and Shihab 5 missiles, capable of reaching Europe and the U.S., by order of Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei. 3. Statements by senior Revolutionary Guards officials about a plan to eliminate "Anglo-Saxon civilization" using missiles and martyrdom [suicide] bombers, and about "29 sensitive targets" in the West, already identified by Iranian intelligence with the aim of blowing them up.[170]

July 15, 2004 – “Qom seminaries have become very politicized,” Iranian analyst Mohammed Hosseini said in Tehran. “Qom is the center of Iranian Shiite theology. Najaf is the center of global Shiism.”…Qom cleric and writer Mohammad Javad Akbarein says that unlike those in Najaf, Iran’s senior clerics rely on government funds and patronage. “The Qom seminary wants to remain as a pioneer platform for Shiite Islamic thinking and definitely doesn’t want Najaf to take its place,” he said.[171]

July 16, 2004 – Senior source within the Iranian presidency as saying that more than 384 Al-Qaeda members of the group and other terrorist organizations have sought haven in Iran, including 18 senior members of Al-Qaeda. The terrorist leaders are reportedly living under tight security -- some of them in villas in the Namak Abrud region, close to the town of Chalous on the Caspian Sea. Others are reportedly living in Lavizan, northwest of the capital. A large military complex is also located in the area.[172]

July 18, 2004 – Press reports indicate that the September 11 commission's report, will indicate that Iran may have facilitated the 2001 attacks on the United States by providing eight to 10 al Qaeda hijackers with safe passage to and from training camps in Afghanistan. Quoting congressional, commission and government sources, said Iran relaxed border controls and provided "clean" passports for the so-called "muscle hijackers" to transit Iran to and from Osama bin Laden's camps between October 2000 and February 2001. Iranian officials, issued "specific instructions to their border guards ... not to put stamps in the passports of al Qaeda personnel and otherwise not harass them and to facilitate their travel across the frontier."[173]

July 18, 2004 – Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib disclosed that many persons involved in terrorist operations have recently been arrested. The latest arrest, he said, was made two days ago. He added: "We discovered that there is large coordination and cooperation between the organized crime gangs and the terrorist groups. One of the arrested was Iraqi and seven others were Arabs. Investigation with them has been going on since last night." He said there are about 60 detainees, including Iranians, Afghans, and Libyans. Asked about the extent of the Iranian influence on the security situation in Iraq, Al-Naqib said: "I think talk about this subject will have political repercussions. Nevertheless, I can say that there is deep Iranian penetration."[174]

July 20, 2004 – Iraqi Defense Minister Al-Sha'lan said in an interview that “The Iranian penetration is extensive and is unprecedented since the establishment of the Iraqi state. The Iranians have entered the state's parts and set up several intelligence and security centers in Iraq.” But he asserted, “We have started to deal with the matter in a sensitive and delicate way.” He added: “The voices of the prime minister and the foreign minister and my voices are clear in the opposition to Iran's blatant interference in Iraq's affairs. This is a dangerous precedence. They admit they have spies in Iraq whose task is to undermine the social and political situations. …Iran is the main country from which the border is crossed and violated.” He went on to explain that the "Iranian penetration is extensive and unprecedented since the establishment of the Iraqi state. The Iranians have penetrated the state's parts in general and set up several intelligence and security centers. This is a dangerous precedence. They admit they have spies in Iraq whose task is to undermine the social and political situations, but the Iraqi people are immune."[175]

July 20, 2004 – Iraqi Interior Minister Falah Hassan al-Naqib said on 18 July that "several Iranians" are among dozens of foreigners arrested by the Iraqi interim government in recent weeks for alleged involvement in terrorist acts.[176]

July 23, 2004 – Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr gave his first public sermon in nearly two months, saying he will not allow any attack on neighbors Syria or Iran from Iraqi territory.[177]

July 25, 2004 – Former fighters from Afghanistan have been caught in Iraq and that they have admitted receiving help from Iranian security forces. A Sudanese man with Iranian intelligence contacts was caught in April with a "very powerful poison," [Hazim] Shalan said, and planned to contaminate drinking water in Diwaniyah, 100 miles south of Baghdad.[178]

July 29, 2004 – Ali Akbar Velayati, a former Iranian foreign minister and current adviser on foreign affairs to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, met with Lebanese Hizballah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on 26 July, Velayati said that Iraq's occupation by the U.S.-led coalition was designed to loot the country's oil and is a "plot against Middle Eastern countries," he urged Iran, Syria, and Lebanon to confront Washington's "plans" for regime changes in the Middle East.[179]

August 8, 2004 – An envoy of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamene'i, visited Al-Sistani. The envoy was General Sulaymani, commander of the "Quds" camp of the Revolutionary Guard intelligence, and is in charge of three bureaus, namely the bureau of Palestinian affairs, the bureau of Lebanese Hizballah, and the bureau of Iraqi affairs, which is called "Nasr." After Sulaymani asked Al-Sistani if there was anything Iran could do to help, Al-Sistani replied: "Tell the officials in Iran that all we need is that they do not interfere in the Iraqi affairs, and to keep their hands off Iraq; we will be happy with this."[180]

Editors Note: General Sulaymani in addition to being the commander of the Quds forces of the IRGC is a member of the Special Committee established by Khamenei to plan and oversee the destabilization of Iraq with the purpose of causing an islamic revolution within the Shi’a population. [See: April 15, 2004 Page 20]

August 9, 2004 – Iraqi police arrested nine Afghanis and 10 Iranians accused of carrying out terrorist activities in Karbala.[181]

August 9, 2004 – Adnan Al-Zarafi governor of Najaf, said that the Iraqi Security Forces had confiscated a grenade launcher labeled “Made in Iran” from supporters of Muqtada Al-Sadr. He added that Najaf residents have said that most of the mortar shells falling on civilian homes during the riots with Al-Sadr’s men were also marked made in Iran.[182]

August 9, 2004 – Iraqi intelligence services arrested four Iranian intelligence officers under the command of Timor Mohammad Mahdi in a residential area of Baghdad. The Iranian were engaged in spying and sabotage.[183]

August 10, 2004 – (Fayyad) Some are talking about an Iranian presence with Al-Sadr's militias and that there are Iranian shari'ah judges in Muqtada's shari'ah courts?

(Al-Naqib) We are gathering all the information and documenting it so as to act on its basis. [Excerpt taken from an interview with Iraqi Interior Minister, Falah Al-Naqib.][184]

August 11, 2004 – General Kassim Sulaymani commander of the IRGQ Quds forces revealed in a closed seminar held at a camp for the students of higher strategic and defense studies at the IRGC the Revolutionary Guards' Al-Hussein University told the students that, “Al-Zarqawi and elements of his organization's command (Ansar al-Islam) do not need prior authority to enter Iran. There are certain border points from Halabjah in the north to Ilam in the south. Al-Zarqawi and more than 20 fighters from Ansar al-Islam leaders can enter the Iranian territories through them whenever they want.” Al-Zarqawi reportedly was given shelter in Iran by the Quds forces and aided in his return to Iraq by those same forces. General Kassim Sulaymani went on to state that Al-Zarqawi actions inside Iraq “serve the higher interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran”.[185]

August 11, 2004 – It is reported that in June 2003, Imad Mughniyah meet with Al-Zarqawi in one of Al-Quds Corps' centers in Kermanshah Province west of Iran. Mughniyah is believed to have also played a major role in the creation and training of Al-Sadr’s paramilitary forces at training camps inside Iran. Those receiving training reportedly include Lebanese Shi’a who would then enter Iraq through Iran disguised as religious students to join up with Al-Sadr.

It is also reported that “Maghniyah submitted earlier this year a report to the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence chief after a visit to Iraq in which he underlined the importance of expanding the cooperation between the "Al-Mahdi Army" and Al-Zarqawi's group because Muqtada al-Sadr was losing very quickly his popularity among the Iraqi Shiites, especially in Al-Najaf city where it was observed that the Shiite families were preventing their sons from joining his militia, while his popularity in the Sunni triangle was rising.”[186]

August 12, 2004 – Iraqi Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan claims Iran is Iraq’s “first enemy” after compiling evidence of Iran supporting Iraqi Shiite militants by arming them to battle against U.S.-led coalition forces, including those in Najaf.[187]

August 14, 2004 – The following is a phone interview with the Iraqi Defense Minister, Hazim Al-Sha’lan:

(Fayyad) Have you captured fighters from Muqtada's supporters who are not Iraqis?

(Al-Sha'lan) Yes, we have captured fighters who are not Arabs and do not speak Arabic.

(Fayyad) What are their nationalities?

(Al-Sha'lan) Iranians and Afghans. We will show some of them on the television screen once we complete the investigations with them.[188]

August 19, 2004 – A source close to President Khatami revealed to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that the Iranian Information and Security Ministry (not to be confused with the Revolutionary Guards Corps Intelligence, which is controlled by conservative party) has intercepted a scheme to “kill US officers and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) elements in the former Soviet republics neighboring Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the self-ruled Naxcivan, and Turkmenistan”. The evidence came from recorded phone calls which identified the conspirators as a high-ranking official in the guide’s office and Sayf al-Adl, one of the senior leaders Al-Qaeda’s organization in Iran. The plan foiled elements that connected Al-Quds Corps, the Guards’ intelligence, and Al-Qaeda, in addition to smaller terrorist groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda in central Asia and the Caucasus.[189]

August 31, 2004 – Iraqi Defense Minister Hazim al-Sha'lan in an interview with the London newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat stated that within the Imam Ali Mosque Iraqi security forces found “Iranian-made mortars and rocket propelled grenade launchers, BKC machineguns, and two tons of explosives” which had been stockpiled by the Al-Sadr forces.[190]

September 2, 2004- A suspected al-Qaeda operative, by the name of Sharif al-Misri, and another man who was identified as Abdul Hakeem were arrested in Quetta, Pakistan. Al-Misri, an Egyptian, was labeled as an “explosives expert” who arrived in Quetta from Iran. A security official who was familiar with the investigations on the two suspects said: “He (al-Misri) is an explosives expert. He has told us that his wife and children live in Iran.”[191]

September 13, 2004- Khamenei: "The Muslim world should promote unity and stand against the global arrogance of the US anywhere and in whatever manner.”[192]

September 21, 2004- During a speech made at the 12^th Session of Iran’s Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Ali Meshkini urged Iraq to follow Iran’s footsteps by establishing a theocratic regime based on the principles of Islam. Moreover, Ayatollah Meshkini advised the Iraqi leadership to: “expel the occupiers” who are responsible for “the ruthless massacre of the Iraqi people and [therefore] must be punished by a competent court.”[193]

September 2004- Iraqi Defense Minister Hazim al-Khuzai addressed Iran’s involvement in the August crisis in Najaf led by al-Sadr. He stated that when al-Sadr called for support to occupy the Imam Ali shrine, “Many of the attackers came from outside the borders, particularly from Iran…we arrested 45 Iranians and 11 Afghans in Al-Kut and 36 Pakistanis in Al-Najaf.”[194]

September 23, 2004- Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported that intelligence information was given to Iraq from an unnamed Arab country. The intelligence was identified as a recording between a former security Iraqi official and an Iranian intelligence agency, which included pertinent information on Iraqi and multinational forces.[195]

September 27, 2004- Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Mas’ud Barzani met with the Speaker of the Iranian Majles, Gholamali Haddad-Adel, in which current security developments in Iraq were discussed. Furthermore, Iran’s political, economical, and cultural role in Iraq was outlined. Hopes to recommence pilgrimages to the holy shrines were also highlighted. [196]

October 8, 2004- The explosives used both at the Taba Hilton bombing and the Nueiba oasis (destroyed in the recent Sinai massacre) were of Iranian manufacture.[197]

October 11, 2004- “Tens of thousands of Iranians have entered Iraq and are applying for citizenship so that they can participate in the planned election, according to a statement from the Popular Struggle Movement cited by Baghdad's ‘Al-Ittijah al-Akhar’ on 3 October. These Iranians reportedly are coordinating their activities with ‘Iraqi parties with sectarian tendencies,’ which is presumably a reference to predominantly Shi'a parties such as the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and Al-Da'wah al-Islamiya.”[198]

October 12, 2004- According to a top Iranian dissident living in Paris, 800 clerics and theology students from Iran are expected to infiltrate into Iraq beginning the first day of Ramadan. Ayatollah Jalal Ganje'i, a vehement critic of the Iranian regime, says the clerics and students have an objective to strengthen “the Iraqi political groups whose philosophy and aims coincide with those of Iran’s theocratic regime.” Attempts to unify both Iraqi and Iranian Shiite Muslims will only lead to more violence in Iraq.[199]

October 13, 2004- “Al Shahwani revealed that Iran is financing TV and radio channels, as well as allocating 45 million US dollars for armed groups in Iraq, which it hired to serve the Iranian policies in Iraq and to carry out the assassination or acts of sabotaged by Iranians.”[200]

October 13, 2004- Iraq's national intelligence chief Mohammed al-Shahwani said that they have found document “confirming Iran's contribution toward establishing a TV production company in Iraq. He added that a budget of $79,882 (figure as published) was designated for this company and it is run by an Iranian, whose name is Ja'far Bish Qadam. Moreover, there are five radio stations and a number of local newspapers in Baghdad that Iran finances and provides with all the required supplies, resources and funds and are supervised by an Iranian owner, he said. The intelligence director indicated that this represents a clear violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a serious unprecedented incident, especially since these media corporations operate without official approval. He added that the documents also disclose that these corporations collect sensitive intelligence and deliver them to Iran's Revolutionary Guard.”[201]

October 14, 2004- “Iraq's national intelligence chief Mohammed al-Shahwani has accused Iran's Baghdad embassy of masterminding an assassination campaign that has seen 18 intelligence agents killed since mid-September.” The Iranian embassy allegedly worked with members of the SCIRI, Badr, and Hezbollah to plot these assassinations. Iraqi intelligence uncovered documents connected the Iranians to the assassinations. Shahwani stated these "Documents were obtained ... (showing) the Iranian regime ... is seeking to embroil some of the SCIRI members in subversive acts to exacerbate Iraq's wounds and dominate it." He added: "A document (showed) that Iran allocated a budget to Badr Corps, totaling 45 million dollars…Among the objectives of this budget is to back the formation of a security service grouping several directorates to carry out a set of subversive acts including ... physical liquidation."[202]

October 24, 2004- Ali-Asghar Khaji is appointed the foreign minister's “special representative to Iraq” and “director of the Foreign Ministry's Special Office for Iraqi Affairs”. Khaji previously served as ambassador to Riyadh.[203]

October 25, 2004- 20 Iranians and Afghanis were caught carrying weapons and explosives into Iraq though the northern part of the Iraqi-Iranian border.[204]

October 27, 2004- According to a former Iranian intelligence officer, bin Laden asked for Iran’s help after President Musharraf announced in July 2002 he was searching for bin laden in the tribal areas of Pakistan. On a tape addressed to Ayatollah Khamenei, bin laden asked for Iran to harbor him. In return, bin laden would plan al Qaeda attacks on American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, assuming American intervention in Iraq to be inevitable. Moreover bin Laden pledged: “If I die, my followers will be told to follow you [Khamenei].” The plea resulted in the transportation of bin Laden’s four wives, his eldest son Saad bin Laden. Saad reportedly remains under protection of the Revolutionary Guards in Iran today.[205]

October 27, 2004 - Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Ali Shamkhani said “the United States is pursuing its own interests in the region, but Iran has already taken measures to counter U.S. policy…”[206]

October 31. 2004- 94 infiltrators, both Iranians and Afghanis, illegally crossed through the southern border of Iraq into Basra and Amarah. None of them had legal forms of identification or travel documents.[207]

November 2- “Iran is playing a negative role in Iraq. It is behind the assassination of more than 18 Iraqi intelligence officers. It is also playing a negative role in southern Iraq,” Yawar told Kuwait’s Al Qabas newspaper.[208]

November 3- Al-Sadr has established a new organization named the National Front for the Liberation of Iraq, in an effort to unify the groups opposed to the presence of Coalition forces inside Iraq.[209]

November 8- According to Iraqi Kurdish and Western officials, Islamic insurgents have been infiltrating to Iraq from Iran, bringing new recruits and weapons. Brig. Sarkout Hassan Jalal, director of security in Sulaimaniyah, said the Islamic militants “are smuggling recruits to Iraq from Iran…and then take them to Fallujah or other hot spots” (like Mosul). Moreover, Kurdish security forces found passports, including Yemen, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, buried in a safe house on the Iranian side of the border. [210]

November 14- The Iraqi border forces announced the construction of 24 police stations along the border with Iran. This follows an announcement that Iraqi border forces arrested 180 foreigners crossing over from Iran into Iraq in the Diyala, Wasit, and Maysan regions. The detained individuals were entering illegally and where in possession of various weapons.[211]

December 4- Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) chief Hojatoleslam Abd al-Aziz al-Hakim visited Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and President Mohammad Khatami, in Tehran. High on the discussions were the upcoming elections.[212]

December 5- Ayatollah Kazem al-Haeri, was reportedly behind a recent delegation from Qom who has set up offices inside Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's office to help in “unravel election-related issues”.[213]

December 6- A coalition of mostly Shi’a political parties calling itself the “United Iraqi Alliance” is formed. Many of these parties including SCIRI, Da’wa, and Iraqi Hezbollah are known or suspected of having close and continuing ties to Iran.[214]

December 7- Police in Karbala ordered the closure and expulsion of the owners of 6 Iranian tourist bureaus. They have also reportedly detained 210 Iranians in the city who did not have passports.[215]

December 7- According to recent new reports the senior leadership of Al-Qaeda who are operating inside Iran are living in the Caspian coastal town of Chalus.[216]

December 8- King Abdullah of Jordan claims that more than a million Iranians have crossed over into Iraq and are setting themselves up to influence the outcome of the January elections. In addition King Abdullah said that the Iranian government is paying salaries and providing welfare service within the poorer neighborhoods in an effort to build a “pro-Iranian sentiment”. This is being done under the protection of the IRGC trained militias within Iraq.[217]

December 8- Iraqi President Ghazi Yawar claims that Iran is coaching pro-Tehran candidates as well as “pouring ‘huge amounts of money’ into the election campaign” as part of an effort to bring about a pro-Iran government in Iraq.[218]

December 10- Iranian linked Shi’a parties topped the list of the candidates running under the United Iraqi Alliance, including al-Hakim of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and Ibrahim al-Jaafari of the Da’wa Party.[219]

December 15- Iraq’s defense Minister Hazem Shaalann, has accused both Iran and Syria of supporting the terrorist operating within Iraq. He went on to claim that Iranian and Syrian intelligence officers together with former Saddam loyalist are working together with the al-Zarqawi branch of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Shaalann also accused leading Iraqi Shi’a of working to create a “‘pro-Iranian’ coalition”.[220]

December 19- Iraqi ambassador to Iran Muhammad Majid al-Shaykh announced that Iraq has stopped the issuing of Visa’s to Iranians because of the security situation inside Iraq. According the Iranian Foreign Ministry over 1,500 Iranians have been detained by Iraqi officials.[221]

December 23- United Iraqi Alliance publishes its political platform. The First four parts of their platform is as follows “1. A united Iraq--land and people--with full national sovereignty. 2. A timetable for the withdrawal of the multinational forces from Iraq. 3. A constitutional, pluralistic, democratic, and federally united Iraq. 4. Iraq that respects the Islamic identity of the Iraqi people. The state religion is Islam.”

They have also provided a list of which member parties their list of candidates are drawn from: 1. Supreme Assembly of Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SAIRI) 2. Islamic Al-Da'wah Party. 3. Centrist Grouping Party. 4. Badr Organization. 5. Islamic Al-Da'wah Party/Iraq's Organization. 6. Justice and Equality Grouping. 7. Iraqi National Congress (INC). 8. Islamic Virtue Party. 9. First Democratic National Party. 10. Islamic Union of Iraqi Turcomans. 11. Turcoman Al-Wafa Party. 12. Islamic Filian Grouping in Iraq. 13. Islamic Action Organization. 14. Future Iraq Grouping. 15. Hezbollah Movement in Iraq. 16. Islamic Master of Martyrs Movement.[222]

December 27- Iran denounced an attempted assassination of SCIRI leader Abdel Aziz al-Hakim. The attack involved the use of a car bomb that left 12 people dead.[223]

[Editors Note: It should be remembered that Abdel Aziz al-Hakim brother and the spiritual leader of the SCIRI was killed in a similar manner in 2003 in an attack that members of the IRCG in Iran claimed was ordered by Iran following moves away from the Iranian camp. Since that time the government of Iran has been pressuring al-Hakim to accept Ayatollah Kadhem al-Husseini al-Haeri as the new spiritual leader of the SCIRI]

January 3- 200,000 Iraq born individuals who live in Iran and have Iranian identification will be eligible to vote in six provinces within Iran in the upcoming elections.[224]

January 4- After a three day visit to Tehran Muhsin Abd al-Hamid, secretary-general of the Islamic Party of Iraq, denounced claims of Iranian interference in the upcoming Iraqi election. This after meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, Expediency Council Chairman Ayatollah Ali-Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, and President Hojatoleslam Mohammad Khatami. Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi al-Mudarrisi, spiritual leader of the Islamic Action Organization, who lived in Iran for the past 32 years expressed similar views during his own visit to Tehran.[225]

January 8- Moayad Ahmed Yasseen a former colonel in Saddam Hussein's army and leader of the terrorist organization Jaish Muhammad, admits that “two former military officers were sent ‘to Iran in April or May, where they met a number of Iranian intelligence officials.’ He said Iranian officials provided money, weapons "and as far as I know even car bombs" for the group. He said among the officials they met in Iran was its supreme leader Ali Khamenei.” Yasseen went on to say that he was personally authorized by Saddam to cross over into Syria during the war to meet with Syrian Intelligence officers to organize similar support.[226]

January 15- King Abdullah of Jordan last month received a photo showing abu Musab al-Zarqawi, standing with senior commanders of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).[227]

January 16- An Iranian opposition group released a document which they claim to be a report from Iranian backed militants to IRGC Brigadier General Obeydavi, who is a senior commander within the Qods Force. This document details direct Iranian involvement in recent attacks conducted in Baghdad, Ramadi, Falluja, Salahoddin, and Diyala inside Iraq. The document also makes reference to a Fatwa issued in Qom authorizing these attacks.[228]

January 17- Hazem al-Shaalan Iraq’s Defense Minister claimed that Iran has spent more than $1 billion on its meddling in Iraq.[229]

---

[1] “Bin Laden tape: Text” BBC February 12, 2003

[2] Mark Fritz “Iraqi Shiites in Iran awaits Saddam’s fall”, Associated Press March 30, 2003

(Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim is the son of the Grand Ayatollah of Iraq who was succeeded by Grand Ayatollah al-Khoei who was succeeded by the present Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani.)

[3] Craig S. Smith “Cleric in Iran says Shiites must Act” New York Times April 26, 2003

[4] “Iraqi Shi’a cleric visits Iran for talks with Iranian clergy” BBC Worldwide Monitoring June 6, 2003

[5] Craig S. Smith op. cit.

[6] “Abdul Majid Al-Khoei” , The Times of London, April 11, 2003

[7] “Murder of Shiite Leader and Iraqi exile al-Khoei last month may have been part of a power struggle” Newsweek PR Newswire May 11, 2003

Days before al-Khoei and Imam Haider Raifee were murdered; al-Sadr demanded that they turn over the keys to the gilded cage within Imam Ali’s tomb, which contains millions of dollars left by pilgrims.

[8] “Mob Demands Top Iraqi Shiite Cleric Leave” Associated Press April 13, 2003

[9] Joe Scarborough; Alex Witt; Jack Stradley; Chip Reid; David Shuter “MSNBC Reports: Operation Iraqi Freedom” MSNBC April 3, 2003

[10] John Mintz, Dana Priest “Shiite Demands Pose Challenge to US; White House Has Little Sway with Anti-West Factions” Washington Post April 16, 2003

[11] Craig S. Smith April 26, 2003 op. cit.

[12] Ed Finn, Avi Zenilman “A guide to Iraq’s Clerics” Slate Magazine May 15, 2003

[13] Dana Priest, Susan Schmidt, “Al Qaeda Figure Tied to Riyadh Blasts” Washington Post May 18, 2003

[14] ibid.

[15] “Iraqi Shi'a cleric visits Iran for talks with Iranian clergy” BBC Worldwide Monitoring June 6, 2003

[16] Bill Samii “Muqtada al-Sadr in Tehran , followers rally in Al-Basrah” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Iran Report Vol. 6 Number 24, June 9, 2003

[17] Bill Samii “Tehran Allegedly makes deal with Muqtada al-Sadr” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Iran Report Vol. 6 Number 27, June 30, 2003

[18] Ilene R. Prusher “Iran sways Iraqis with food, aid” Christian Science Monitor June 9, 2003

(This is the same strategy used by Hezbollah in Lebanon and the current Iranian efforts in Afghanistan to legitimize their surrogates’ control.)

[19] Paul Martin, “Iraqi ‘Secret Plan’ Orders Mayhem” Washington Times June 9, 2004

[20] Kathleen Ridolfo “Former CENTCOM Head Says 10-25 Violent Incidents Occur in Iraq Each Day” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 6 Number 31 July 17, 2003

[21] Patrick E. Tyler “Iraqis are set to form a governing council” New York Times July 14, 2003

[22] Kathleen Ridolfo “CENTCOM Chief Says Iraqi Resistance Organizing ” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 6 Number 31 July 17, 2003

[23] Bassem Mroue “Shiite leaders issue dueling assessments of US picked Iraqi government” Associated Press, July 18, 2003

[24] “No to America, no to Saddam” The Economist July 26, 2003

[25] Borzou Daragahi “Prominent Shiite cleric denounces U.S.-picked council, vows to set up rival body and Shiite army” The Associated Press July 19, 2003

[26] Taherian is also believed to have overseen the program to channel arms and fighters into the Balkans while serving as the Iranian ambassador to Sarajevo. (see footnote 21 for source)

[27] Bill Samii “Iranian Ambassador to Iraq could be a Military Officer” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report Vol. 6 Number 34 August 18, 2003

[28] Michael Gordon “Militant groups that fled Iraq during the war are may be back” Seattle Times August 10, 2003 Seattle Washington

[29] Steve Harrigan “FBI Probes Deadly Bombing at U.N. HQ in Baghdad” Fox News August 20, 2003

[30] Bill Samii “Iranians in Iraq may Feel Unwelcome” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report Vol. 6 Number 35 September 1 2003

[31] Bill Samii “Al-Najaf Bombing Wounds Senior Cleric” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report 29 August 2003, Volume 6, Number 36

[32] Bill Samii “Iranians in Iraq may Feel Unwelcome” op. cit.

[33] Anthony Shadid, Daniel Williams “Blast kills at least 95 at Iraqi Shrine” Washington Post August 30, 2003 Washington D.C.

[34] “FBI to join mosque bombing probe” www.cnn.com September 1, 2003

[35] Bill Samii “Tehran Blames Occupation for Al-Najaf Bombings” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report September 1 2003, Volume 6, Number 35

[36] Tarek Al-Issawi “Member of Iraqi governing council member demands end to U.S. occupation” Associated Press September 2, 2003

[37] Ibid.

[38] Kathleen Ridolfo “SCIRI confirms Badr Corps remain active” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report September 21 2003 Vol. 6 Number 39

[39] Kathleen Ridolfo “Accusations Fly Between Czech Troops and Shi’ite Cleric in Iraq” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report October 3 2003 Vol. 6 Number 41

[40] Bill Samii “Tehran Debates SCIRI’s Role in Iraq” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report Volume 6, Number 41 October 13 2003

[41] ibid.

[42] Bill Samii “Tehran Broadcasting active in Baghdad” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report Volume 6, Number 41 October 13 2003

[43] Bill Samii “Tehran Debates SCIRI’s Role in Iraq” op. cit.

[44] ibid.

[45] ibid.

[46] Ian Fisher “An Anti-American Iraqi Cleric Declares His Own Government” New York Times October 12 2003

[47] Hamza Hendawi “2 U.S. Soldiers Dead, 4 Hurt in Baghdad” Associated Press October 10, 2003

[48] “Iran: Shi’a Leader Says Iraqis Have Started Major Battle Against ‘Occupiers’” Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (BBC World Monitoring Service Global Newswire Asia Africa Intelligence Wire) October 10 2003

[49] Kathleen Ridolfo “Shi’ite Cleric Advises Iraqis not to Trust Coalition” Iraq Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty October 16 2003, Volume 6, Number 43

[50]. Ian Fisher op. cit

[51] Karl Vick “Cleric to Create Own Cabinet in Iraq Move Seen as Challenge to U.S.-Appointed Governing Council” Washington Post October 12, 2003; Page A28

[52] Bill Samii “Kurdish Leader Criticizes Turkey During Tehran Visit” Iran Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty October 20 2003, Volume 6, Number 42

[53] Dana Priest and Douglas Farah “Iranian Force Has Long Ties to Al Qaeda” Washington Post October 14, 2003; page A17

[54] ibid.

[55] Bill Samii “Tehran Allegedly makes deal with Muqtada al-Sadr” op. cit.

[56] Bill Samii “Tehran Debates SCIRI’s Role in Iraq” op. cit.

[57] Bill Samii “Iran Eager To Participate in Iraqi Reconstruction” Iran Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty October 27, 2003, Volume 6, Number 43

[58] Kathleen Ridolfo “SCIRI Announces New Goals in Iraq” Iraq Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty October 31, 2003, Volume 6, Number 45

[59] Bill Samii “Exile Claims Iran Involved in al-Hakim Assassination” Iran Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty November 3, 2003, Volume 6, Number 44

[60] “Captured Al Qaeda cite Iran as transit route for sleeper agents” World Tribune.com November, 4 2003

[61] Rowan Scarborough “Israel Warns of Terrorist Training” The Washington Times November, 14 2003

[62] Bill Samii “Thousands of Iranians to Visit Iraq Every Day” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report December 15, 2003, Volume 6, Number 48

[63] ibid.

[64] James Risen “A Region Inflamed: The Hand of Tehran; Hezbollah, in Iraq, Refrains From Attacks on Americans” The New York Times November 24, 2003

[65] Kathleen Ridolfo “SCIRI Reportedly Threatening CPA'S Iraqi Media Network” Iraq Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Vol. 6 Num. 50 December 8, 2003 (The “immoral” programming apparently refers to Egyptian soap operas, and America sit-coms, and news broadcasts.)

[66] Kathleen Ridolfo “Al-Sistani wants Transitional Plan Re-Evaluated” Iraq Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Vol. 6 Num. 49 November 27, 2003

[67] Kathleen Ridolfo “The Post-Hussein Media Environment in Iraq” Iraq Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Vol. 6 Num. 49 November 27, 2003

[68] Ibid.

[69] Bill Samii “Thousands of Iranians to Visit Iraq Every Day” op. cit.

[70] ibid.

[71] ibid.

[72] ibid.

[73]Bill Samii, “Former Hizbuallah Secretary-General Critical of Iran” Iran Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Vol. 7, Number 4, January 26, 2004

[74] Hamza Hendawi, “Shiite clerics' power spreads from mosques” Associated Press, January 14, 2004

[75] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Iraqi Cleric Says He might Quit Politics” Iraq Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Vol. 7, Number 3, January 23 2004

[76] Bill Samii, “Iraqi Shi’a Leader Visits Tehran” Iran Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Vol. 7, Number 3, January 19 2004

[77] Richard Giragosian “Pattern of Attacks Targeting Pipelines and Related Infrastructure” Organized Crime and Terrorism Watch Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Vol. 4 Number 3, January 23, 2004

[78] Bill Samii, “Drugs Flow into Iraqi from Iran” Iran Report Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Vol. 7, Number 4, January 26, 2004

[79] Amir Taheri “Khomeinists hammering new strategy to oust ‘Great Satan’” Gulf News Dubai January 28, 2004

[80] “Twin Blasts Slaughter Iraqi Kurds” BBC February 1, 2004

[81] “Bounty Doubled to $10 Million for Al-Zarqawi” Fox News February 12, 2004

[82] “Profile: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi” BBC News February 12, 2004

[83] ibid.

[84] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Proposes Open Border Between Iran, Iraq” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 6 February 20, 2004

[85] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Is Iraq Slipping Towards Civil War” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 6 February 20, 2004

[86] Joseph L. Galloway, “Pentagon Eager to Wash Hands of Iraq Mess It Created” The Miami Herald February 17, 2004, Page 17A,

[87] Jeffrey Gettleman, “Islamic terror sect in north Iraq may be more dangerous then ever” New York Times February 18, 2004

[88] ibid.

[89] ibid.

[90] Kathleen Ridolfo “Is Iraq Slipping Towards Civil War” op. cit.

[91] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Badr Organization Calls for Greater Security Role in Iraq” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 7 February 27, 2004

[92] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Kurdish Ansar Member Claims Links to Al-Qaeda” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 8 March 5, 2004

[93] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Al Hakim Calls for Expanding Governing Council” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 8 March 5, 2004

[94] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Shi’ite Cleric’s Aide Says Iraq facing Conspiracy” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 8 March 5, 2004

[95] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Explosions Rock Karbala and Baghdad on Muslim Holy Day” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 8 March 5, 2004

[96] Kathleen Ridolfo, “SCRI Head Says Bomb Attacks Thwarted in Al-Najaf” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 8 March 5, 2004

[97] Kathleen Ridolfo, “US General Says He will not allow Shi’a to Operate in Armed Militias” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 9 March 13, 2004

[98] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Al-Sistani Issues Fatwa Prohibiting Illegal Entry to Iraq” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 9 March 13, 2004

[99] Mike Dorning, “US closing Iran-Iraq crossing points to stem infiltration” Chicago Tribune March 14, 2004

[100] ibid.

[101] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Purported Norouz Sucide Bombing Plot Thwarted in Al Sulaymaniyah” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 10 March 19, 2004

[102] “Maverick Cleric Inspires Uprising” Associated Press April 4, 2004

[103] “Lebanon Hezbollah denounces US over Iraq” United Press International April 6, 2004

[104] Borzou Daragahi, “Islamic Parties Outpoliticiking Secular Opposition” The Washington Times March 27, 2004

[105] Sharon Behn, Hezbollah, Hamas office reported in Iraq” The Washington Times March 31, 2004

[106] Ali Nurizadah, “Ex-intelligence officer says Tehran deploying agents in Iraq” Al-Sharaq al Awsat April 3, 2004

[107] “Al-Hawzah Clerics Criticize Al-Mahdi Army Actions” Al-Sharaq al Awsat April 28, 2004

[108] “Maverick Cleric Inspires Uprising” op. cit.

[109] “Iran ready to send 10,000 pilgrims to Iraq daily” IRNA April 5, 2004

[110] “Arrest Order for Iraq Shia Cleric” BBC April 5, 2004

[111] Gareth Smyth, “Iran Blames US for Instability” Financial Times April 6, 2004

[112] ibid.

[113] Kim Murphy, “A few try to stop the flow of weapons, fighters into Iraq” Los Angles Times April 6, 2004

[114] “Office of Iran’s Hajj Org. reopened in Karbala” Iranmania.com quoting IRNA April 6, 2004

[115] “Islamic Sources: Activating ‘Shiite Resistance’ in Iraq was decided at ‘Secret Islamic’ Conference in London Last Month” Al Sharq Al Awsat, April 11, 2004

[116] Bill Samii “Iraqi Official Calls for the Withdrawal of Foreign Forces” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report Vol. 7 Number 14 April 12, 2004

[117] Ali Nuri Zadah, “Iranian Source: Revolution Gurad Trains Muqtada al-Sadr’s Supporters on Fighting Techniques” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat April 9, 2004

[118] ibid.

[119] “Iraqi Governing Council Examines Proposals To End Military Confrontation” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat April 10, 2004

[120] “Iraqi Figure Mediating With Iran To Accept Muqtada al-Sadr As Political Refugee” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat April 11, 2004

[121] Bill Samii “Who Asked Tehran to Help in Iraq?” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report Vol. 7 Number 15 April 19, 2004

[122] Bill Samii “Supreme Leader Expects American Humiliation in Iraq” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report Vol. 7 Number 15 April 19, 2004

[123] Kerry Sheridan “Myers: Foreign Fighters Still Infiltrating Iraq Through Syria, Iran” Voice of America April 15, 2004

[124] “Iran Diplomat Shot Dead in Iraq” BBC April 15, 2004

[125] “Iranian Diplomat Killed In Iraq” Associated Press April 15, 2004

[126] Ali Nuri Zadah, “Teheran to End Support for Muqtada al-Sadr and Infiltration to Iraq” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat April 15, 2004

[127] ibid

[128] Ali Nouri Zadeh, Islamic Jihad Hamas and the Palestinian Authority Meet in Iran” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat June 8, 2002

[129] Bill Samii “Who Asked Tehran to Help in Iraq?” op. cit.

[130] “Shiite party seeking to revive mediation between Sadr, US-led coalition” Hi Pakistan April 18, 2004

[131] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Militias Operating Contraband Rings in al-Basrah ” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 15 April 22, 2004

[132] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Iraqi Negotiators Search for end to Standoff Between Al-Sadr, US” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 15 April 22, 2004

[133] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Multiple Car Bombings Target Police Stations in al-Basrah” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 15 April 22, 2004

[134] Kathleen Ridolfo, “SCIRI Member Denies Links to Iran, Defends Iran-Iraq Relations” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iraq Report Vol. 7 Number 16 May 7, 2004

[135] Ali Nurizadeh, “Iranian Source: The Diplomat Was an Intelligence Officer and His Assassination was in Retaliation for Hunting Down ‘Mojahedin-e Khalq’ Leaders” Al Sharq Al Awsat April 22, 2004

[136] “Former Officer of Saddam’s Intelligence Detained in Al-Sulaymaniyah” Al Sharq Al Awsat April 22, 2004

[137] Ali Nurizadeh, “Iranian Sources: Ayatollah Al-Ha’iri Will Retunr to Iraq Pledgeing to Control Muqtada al-Sadr” Al Sharq Al Awsat April 28, 2004

[138] ibid.

[139] Thom Shanker, “The Struggle For Iraq: The Foe; Hussein’s Agents Behind Attacks, Pentagon Finds” The New York Times April 28, 2004

[140] “Fundamentalist Statements in Baghdad Threaten To Bring ‘the fire of the Resistance’ to the Capital” Al Sharq Al Awsat May 1, 2004

[141] “Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi Calls For Establishment of Islamic Union” MEHRNews May 8, 2004

[142] “Iran Sends 100 truck-loads of cargo to Iraq via Shalamcheh daily” Payvand May 10, 2004

[143] Suleiman al-Khalidi “Iraq Cleric to Widen War After US Bombs Baghdad HQ” Reuters May 10, 2004

[144] Borzou Daragahi, “Mentor distances self from al-Sadr” The Washington Times May 12, 2004

[145] Daniel Williams, “Iran Denounces Offensive Against Shiite Insurgents” The Washington Post May 17, 2004

[146] Joseph Naser, “Iran sets up to recruit suicide bombers” Jerusalem Post May 28, 2004

[147] “Iranian Intel Unit Figure Says 'Missiles,' 'Suicide Bombers' Ready To Hit US, UK” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat May 28, 2004

[148] ibid.

[149] “Iran: Campaign to Recruit Suicide Bombers Spreading” BBC Monitoring Middle East July 2, 2004

[150] Karl Vick, “In Iran, Terrorism Remains a Matter of Perspective” The Washington Post June 22, 2004

[151] Walter Pincus and Bradley Graham, “Coded Cable In 1995 Used Chalabi’s Name, Intercepted Iranian Message Involved Plot to Kill Hussein” The Washington Post June 4, 2004 This information was originally published the 2001 book “Breakdown” by Bill Gertz and it concerns the incident in which former CIA offcicer Robert Baer chronicles in his book “See No Evil Hear No Evil” which lead to his removal from Northern Iraq.

[152] Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli, “Iran’s Stirrings in Iraq” Middle East Media Research Institute June 4, 2004

[153] “Iran massing troops on Iraq border” United Press International June 15, 2004

[154] Nicholas Blanford, “Sadr’s best prospect is mainstream politics” The Daily Star June 19, 2004

[155] “Iraqi Source Reports Arrest of Hizballah Captain, Massing of Iranian Troops” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat June 19, 2004

[156] Karl Vick op. cit.

[157] Ali Nurizadeh, “Source: Real Reason for Seizure of Boats Was Revolutionary Guards’ Desire To Release Detainees Held by the British Forces” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat June 23, 2004.

[158] “Two Iranians Arrested Trying to Explode a Car Bomb” AP/ Khaleej Times Online July 5, 2004

[159] “Iran’s supreme leader warns US of global retaliation to any attack” AFP July 5, 2004

[160] “Iraq Reopens Border for Iranian Pilgrim Groups” Iranian Students News Agency (FBIS transcribed) July 5, 2004

[161] Bret Baier, “Iranian Intel Officers Captured in Iraq” Fox News July 6, 2004

[162] Nir Boms and Reza Bulorchi, “Iran’s Terrorist ‘NGO’” The Wall Street Journal July 7, 2004

[163] Bill Samii, “Iranian Broadcasts Continue to Reach Baghdad” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty June 7, 2004

[164] “Iranian Guards Commander Tells Mobilization Forceb to be Ready for Enemy” Iranian students News Agency July 7, 2004

[165] Headlines: Middle East Media Research Institute July 7, 2004

[166] FBIS report, Voice of the Mujahidin July 12, 2004

[167] FBIS Report Sahar International TV Service July 13, 2004

[168] Bill Samii, “Visiting SCIRI Leader Meets With Iranian Officials” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty July 13, 2004

[169] Sami Aboudi, “Suspected Militant Surrenders, Returns to Saudi” Reuters July 13, 2004

[170] “Iran Threatens the West” Middle East Media Research Institute July 14, 2004

[171] Hamza Hendawi, “Shiite Leadership Clash in Iran, Iraq” The Guardian July 15, 2004

[172] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Hundreds of AL-Qaeda Members Said to be Living in Iran” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty July 16, 2004

[173] Agence Frence-Presse, “9/11 panel report says Iran aided al Qaeda” The Washington Times July 18, 2004

[174] Ma’ad Fayyad, “Iraqi Interior Minister Announces Arrest of Libyans, Afghans, and Iranians Involved in Terrorist Acts” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat July 18, 2004

[175] Mu’idd Fayyad, “Iraqi Defense Minister: We Will Take the Response to Terrorism to the Countries That Back it” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat July 20, 2004

[176] Bill Samii, “Iraqi Minister Says Iran Involved in Iraqi Unrest” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty July 20, 2004

[177] “Al-Sadr gives first sermon in two months” Al-Jazeera July 23, 2004

[178] Doug Struck, “Iraq’s Defense Minister Warns of Iranian Infiltration” The Washington Post July 25, 2004

[179] “Supreme Leader’s Adviser Meets Lebanese Hizballah” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty July 29, 2004

[180] Mu'id Fayyad, "Secrets of Shiite Authority's Travel from Al-Najaf to London" Al-Sharq Al-Awsat August 8, 2004

[181] News Tickers: Middle East Media Research Institute (AL-ZAMAN, 8/7/04) August 9, 2004

[182] News Tickers: Middle East Media Research Institute (E'ETEMAD, IRAN, 8/8/04) August 9, 2004

[183] News Tickers: Middle East Media Research Institute (AL-ZAMAN, 8/7/04) August 9, 2004

[184] Mu’idd Fayyad, “Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib has underlined his government's determination ‘to fight and eliminate the abnormal situations in Iraq’ and said the militias of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr ‘are outlaws and must be disbanded.’ Al-Sharq Al-Awsat August 10, 2004

[185] “Iran's Al-Quds Corps Chief Reportedly Admits Providing Facilities to Al-Zarqawi” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat August 11, 2004

[186] ibid.

[187] “Iran Summons Iraqi Embassy Official” Guardian Unlimited

[188] Mu’idd Fayyad, “Iraqi Defense Minister Hazim al-Sha'lan has given hard-line Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr an opportunity to give himself up to the Iraqi authorities and pledged ‘he will be treated with full respect’ or else ‘we will consider him a prisoner if we capture him.’” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat August 14, 2004

[189] Ali Nurizadeh, “Iranian Source Close to Khatami: Iranian Intelligence Ministry Foiled Plan To Assassinate US Officers in Neighboring Countries…” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat August 19, 2004

[190] Ma'd Fayyad, “Iraq: Defense Minister Discusses Efforts to End Al-Najaf Crisis” Al-Sharq Al-Awsat August 31, 2004

[191] Naseer Kakar, “Source: al-Qaida Suspect Came From Iran” houmatoday.com (The Courier) September 2, 2004

[192] “Iran's Khamenei Calls On Muslim World's Unity Against US” People’s Daily September 13, 2004

[193] Tom Carter, “Clerical body calls for ‘Islamic’ Iraq” The Washington Times September 21, 2004

[194] Bill Samii, “Iraqi Official Details Iranian Involvement in August Crisis” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report vol. 7, no.32, September 20, 2004

[195] News Ticker Headlines: Middle East Media Research Institute September 23, 2004

[196] “Iraqi Kurdish Leader Barzani, Iranian Officials Discuss Security, Ties” Kurdistan Satellite TV September 27, 2004

[197] “Sinai Massacre - an Iranian-Hizballah-al Qaeda Co-production” DEBKA file October 8, 2004

[198] Vahid Sepehri, Kathleen Ridolfo, and Bill Samii, “Planned Iraqi Election Interests Iran” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty Iran Report vol. 7 no. 35 October 11, 2004

[199] Jennifer Joan Lee, “Iran plots Ramadan infiltration in Iraq” The Washington Times October 12, 2004

[200] “Iraq Accuses Iran of Sabotaging its Intelligence” Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2004

[201] “Exclusive: Intelligence Service Director to Al-Zaman: Tehran Designates Millions of Dollars To Finance Iraqi Armed Groups and Media Corporations” Baghdad Al-Zman October 13, 2004

[202] “Iraq Accuses Iranian Embassy of Killing Agents” Agence France Presse October 14, 2004

[203] Bill Samii, “Foreign Ministry Appoints Special Iraqi Representative” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report vol. 7, no.38, November 1, 2004

[204] News Ticker Headlines: Middle East Media Research Institute October 25, 2004

[205] Richard Miniter, “Bin Laden's Iran Alliance” The Washington Times October 27, 2004

[206] Bill Samii, “Military Opposes Outsiders in the Region” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report vol. 7, no.38, November 1, 2004

[207] “Iraqi Forces Capture 94 Infiltrators Crossing From Iran” Saudi Press Agency October 31, 2004

[208] “Yawar Accuses Iran Of Orchestrating Attacks In Iraq” The Peninsula November 2, 2004

[209] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Al-Sadr Establishes a New organization” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iraq Report Vol 7 Num 41 November 5, 2004

[210] Louis Meixler, “Extremists Moving Across Iran-Iraq Border” The Washington Times November 8, 2004

[211] Kathleen Ridolfo, “Iraq to Establish 24 Police Stations Along Iranian Border” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iraq Report Vol 7 Num 43 November 19, 2004

[212] Bill Samii, “SCIRI Leader Visits Iran” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report Vol 7 Num 44 December 14 2004

[213] Bill Samii, “Amidst Iraqi Complaints About Iranian Interference” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report Vol 7 Num 44 December 14 2004

[214] Anthony Shadid, Karl Vick “Candidate Slate Shows Shiites Closing Ranks: Sistani Backs List for Parliamentary Vote” Washington Post December 7, 2004

[215] Bill Samii, “Amidst Iraqi Complaints About Iranian Interference” op. cit.

[216] Sharon Chadha “What is Al-Qaeda Management Doing in Iran?” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report Vol. 7 Num 43 December 7 2004

[217] Robin Wright, Peter Baker, “Iraq, Jordan See threat to Election From Iran; Leaders Warn Against Forming Religious State” Washington Post December 8, 2004

[218] ibid.

[219] Nick Wadhams, “Representative of Iraq’s dominant Iran-Linked Shiite Party Tops Election List” Associated Press December 10, 2004

[220] Paul Garwood “Iraq’s Defense Minister Accuses Iran, Syria of Supporting Al-Qaeda linked terrorist in his nation” Associated Press December 15, 2004

[221] Bill Samii, “Iraq Stops Issuing Visas to Iranians” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report Vol 7 Num 46 December 27 2004

[222] “Unified Iraqi Coalition List” Baghdad Al-Adalah December 23, 2004

[223] “Iran slams attempt on pro-Iran Iraq cleric” United Press International December 27, 2004

[224] Bill Samii, “Iraqi Expatriates Can Vote in Iran” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report Vol 8 Num 2 January 10 2005

[225] Bill Samii, “Iraqi Shi’a Leaders Deny Accusations of Iranian Interference During Visit to Tehran” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty/Iran Report Vol 8 Num 2, January 10 2005

[226] “Insurgent Admits Iran, Syria Links on Tape” Associated Press January 8, 2005

[227] “Jordan King receives photo of al-Zarqawi, Iran military chiefs” Iran in Focus January 15, 2005

[228] “Iraqi insurgents send action report to Iran's military chiefs” Iran in Focus January 16, 2005

[229] “Iran spent over $1 billion on meddling in Iraq: Defence Minister” Ilaf January 17, 2005