Iran after establishing “strategic position” in Gulf – report

Iran Focus: London, May 05 – A prominent Arab daily accused Iran of trying to establish a “strategic position” in the Gulf region by dominating Iraq with the support of Iraqi political parties which it backs. Iran Focus

London, May 05 – A prominent Arab daily accused Iran of trying to establish a “strategic position” in the Gulf region by dominating Iraq with the support of Iraqi political parties which it backs.

Tehran’s rulers were working relentlessly to take advantage of the political situation in Iraq by making sure that groups they support and fund come to power, the daily al-Hayat wrote in its Thursday edition.

The daily said that Iran was hoping to dominate “the region which is known in the Western world as the Eastern Gate”.

By signalling its willingness to hold bilateral talks with representatives of the United States in Iraq, Tehran was attempting to display to neighbouring Arab countries that America was not alone in having a strong presence in Iraq and that Iran had developed a powerbase there which was larger than that of U.S., the report added.

It charged that agents of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) had infiltrated Iraq after the fall of the country’s former regime in 2003.

The report said that Iraq’s new administration would not be able to disband armed militias in the country until it prevented Iran from exerting its influence in the country.