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THE NEAREST and DEAREST ENEMY: IRAN AFTER the IRAQ WAR by Abbas William Samii*1

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THE NEAREST and DEAREST ENEMY: IRAN AFTER the IRAQ WAR by Abbas William Samii*1 THE NEAREST AND DEAREST ENEMY: IRAN AFTER THE IRAQ WAR By Abbas William Samii*1 Tehran's stand towards events in Iraq developed chronologically and against a backdrop of continuing hostility to the United States. From 2001 until the beginning of Operation Iraq Freedom in March 2003, Iran called for resolution of the issue through international organizations, while simultaneously interacting with Washington, Baghdad, and the Iraqi opposition. The next stage was marked by allegations of Iranian support for Iraqi insurgents. These allegations continued in the third stage, from July 2003 to the present, as did a warming of Tehran-Baghdad relations. With the end of the war in Iraq, Iran found itself surrounded on all sides by what it perceives as its greatest enemy -- the United States. It was also faced with the possibility of Kurdish autonomy and being surpassed by Iraq as the center of Shi'a Islam. This article was originally written for a project and conference on "After the Iraq War: Strategic and Political Changes in Europe and the Middle East," co-sponsored by the GLORIA Center and The Military Centre for Strategic Studies (CeMiSS) of Italy. One would expect Tehran to welcome the Nevertheless, the conclusion of Operation ouster of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. He Iraqi Freedom has placed Iran in an was a man responsible for an eight-year war uncomfortable political and strategic position (1980-1988) against Iran that cost hundreds in which it is surrounded on all sides by what of thousands of lives, who forced thousands it perceives as a greater enemy than Saddam of Iraqis to become refugees in Iran, used Hussein-- the United States. Furthermore, chemical weapons against Iran's Shi'a Tehran is unsure of where it stands with the Muslim co-religionists in Iraq, and who new government in Baghdad. These factors, sponsored a violent Iranian opposition group as well as the possibility of Kurdish for approximately two decades. Indeed, UN minorities militating for greater autonomy Security Council Resolution 598 of July 1988 and the revival of Iraq as the center of Shi'a led to a ceasefire between Iran and Iraq, but a Islam, greatly affect Iran's current position. formal peace treaty was never signed. Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 9, No. 3 (September 2005) 27 Abbas William Samii The Iranian attitude towards events in Iraq Iranian decision making process, in which developed in three fairly distinct phases. The informal actors and networks can wield as first phase lasted from September 11, 2001-- much influence as formal ones, makes the date of al-Qa'ida attacks against the U.S. - comprehension and prediction extremely - until March 20, 2003. During that time difficult. A model for Iran's recent dealings Tehran pursed a policy of what it called with Iraq is its dealings with the Balkans in "active neutrality." It refused to take sides the mid-1990s, and Afghanistan since and maintained contacts with Baghdad, September 2001. London, and Washington, but also In the Balkans, Tehran provided simultaneously supported Iraqi opposition humanitarian services, set up radio stations, groups. During this period, furthermore, and sent in missionaries. Tehran also led the Iranian leaders expressed great hostility to the way in securing a December 1992 United States and skepticism about its Organization of the Islamic Conference intentions. The second phase lasted from declaration that called for an end to the March 20, 2003, when Operation Iraqi international arms embargo, and it smuggled Freedom began, approximately until the arms and ammunition into the region. Iranian creation of the Iraqi Governing Council in spies and IRGC personnel were active on the July 2003. This period was marked by U.S. ground, sometimes disguising themselves as allegations of Iranian interference in Iraqi relief workers. affairs, as well as the emergence of a Notably, the Iranian Ambassador to heretofore unknown Shi'a cleric named Sarajevo during some of that time (1994- Muqtada al-Sadr and questions about his 1998), Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian, later relationship with Iran. The third phase, from served as the first ambassador to Kabul after July 2003 until the conclusion of this article the Taliban's ouster. Before that, he served in in June 2005, includes factors seen Afghanistan and helped channel Iranian aid previously-- U.S. and Iraqi allegations of to Shi'a mujahedin groups, and he then served Iranian interference and Iranian criticism of in Tajikistan. 2 The man appointed consul to the U.S. -- and also includes formal Tehran- the southern Afghan city of Kandahar in Baghdad contacts and a warming of relations. December 2004-- Hussein Shaykh Zein-ed- The conclusion identifies the threats Iran Din-- has a similar background. He served as currently perceives, discusses the ways in ambassador to Colombia in 1999, when which Tehran is trying to address them, and Colombian authorities became concerned explains Iranian behavior that appears to be at about Iranian activities in the demilitarized cross purposes. zone and raised questions about Iranian military advisers working on a FORESHADOWING-- FROM THE slaughterhouse in a region that had few cows BALKANS TO AFGHANISTAN TO and was controlled by Revolutionary Armed IRAQ Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas. International actors operate in a very In the early 1990s, the revolutionary dynamic environment, in which the influence impulse was still important to Iran and of different factors fluctuates over time. activities in the Balkans could take place at Times of conflict can be especially fast- relatively little cost to it. A more recent guide paced. Furthermore, the obscurity of the to Iran's reaction to Operation Iraqi Freedom 28 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 9, No. 3 (September 2005) The Nearest and Dearest Enemy is the way the country's leaders behaved after United States wants to establish itself in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the against the United States. Tehran initially subcontinent under the pretext of establishing condemned the actual attacks and the Iranian security. The United States also intends to public expressed sympathy for the victims "settle scores with anyone who defended the and their families. On the day of the attacks oppressed people of Palestine." Khamene'i President Mohammad Khatami said in a said that U.S. government comments about statement read out on state television, "I the terrorist attacks were "very arrogant and condemn the terrorist operations of hijacking pretentious." Many who side with the United and attacking public places in American States "are more dangerous than the entire cities which have resulted in the death of a terrorists of the world," he said, adding, "The large number of defenseless American most stubborn and evil terrorists are on your people."3 Candlelight vigils took place in side right now." Tehran, there was a moment of silence before During the period immediately preceding a World Cup qualifying match, and officials Operation Enduring Freedom, Iranian signed the book of condolences at the Swiss officials consistently emphasized their desire Embassy, which represents U.S. interests in to have the issue resolved in a multilateral Iran. forum, and preferably by the United Nations. Nevertheless, Tehran claimed that it There were three reasons for this attitude. would not help the United States if it acted The first, and most important, was Tehran's against al-Qa'ida and its Taliban hosts in reluctance to have U.S. military forces on its Afghanistan. "America's expansionist policies eastern border. The second reason, of almost were the cause of recent developments," equal importance, relates to Tehran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene'i unhappiness about the U.S. ability to act said.4 "Most of the evidence points the finger unilaterally if it desires, and to organize an of suspicion towards the Zionists for international coalition to support its military masterminding the recent incidents in actions. The third reason is Iran's self- America," according to Khamene'i, and he perceived role as a Third World and Islamic went on to say that Israel was exploiting the community leader. If the United States could situation to oppress the Muslim Palestinians. act against a small, undeveloped country such Khamene'i warned that "if America was to as Afghanistan, then other developing enter Pakistan and dispatch forces to countries, including Iran, would be at risk. Afghanistan so as to expand its might in the These reasons reflect some of the region, its problems will multiply daily." traditional influences in Iranian foreign and Less than a week later, Khamene'i said, security policy-- ethnicity, geopolitics, "We shall not offer any assistance to America Islamic radicalism, thirdworldism, and and its allies in their attack on Afghanistan. "5 nationalism.6 Moreover, cooperation with the As the crowd chanted "Death to America," United States in a war against a Muslim state Khamene'i asked how the United States could could have repercussions. Professor Fereidun seek Iranian assistance in attacking Khavand of the University Rene Descartes in Afghanistan, when "You are the ones who Paris explained, "For every regime, there is a have always inflicted blows on Iran's founding myth, and the founding myth of the interests." According to Khamene'i, the Islamic Republic is anti-Americanism."7 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 9, No. 3 (September 2005) 29 Abbas William Samii Letting that myth collapse by joining an Iran-- as well as Iraq, North Korea, and their American or Western coalition against a terrorist allies-- "constitute an axis of evil, Muslim country, Khavand said, would arming to threaten the peace of the world. " jeopardize the Islamic republic's legitimacy. The deputy IRGC commander's reaction to Once the war in Afghanistan began, Bush's speech was to make an implicit threat Khamene'i explained events by saying that to act against Persian Gulf oil fields, and two America's "true motive" is the "quest for weeks later the IRGC commander threatened power" and the "quest for hegemony.
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