Iran Focus: Baghdad, Jan. 27 An independent Shiite cleric accused Iran of spying on Iraq’s most influential religious figure. In an interview with Al-Arabia television, senior cleric Ayad Jamaloddin said, “Iranian intelligence agents have bought a number of houses in the road of the residence of [Ayatollah Ali”> Sistani, and listen to his private conversations. There is no doubt that Iran is meddling in the affairs of Iraq”. Iran Focus
Baghdad, Jan. 27 An independent Shiite cleric accused Iran of spying on Iraq’s most influential religious figure.
In an interview with Al-Arabia television, senior cleric Ayad Jamaloddin said, “Iranian intelligence agents have bought a number of houses in the road of the residence of [Ayatollah Ali”> Sistani, and listen to his private conversations. There is no doubt that Iran is meddling in the affairs of Iraq”.
“The Iraqi people, especially Shiites, will not allow Iranian or non-Iranian meddling in the affairs of Iraq”, he added.
In response to a question about the pro-Iran Shiite slate running in the January 30th elections, Jamaladdin accused the group of being a “Persian List” of candidates.
In a separate development, the National Guards commander in the southern Iraqi city of Al-Diwaniya accused Iran of carrying out attacks and funding insurgents throughout the country.
“Those who carry out terrorist operations in Iraq either come from Iran or are funded by Iran to carry out their operations”, Major-General Othman Al-Qanemi said in an interview with the Al-Yawm Al-Akhar weekly.
“We have arrested a number of the Iranian regime’s mercenaries and have handed them over to the Interior Ministry so that they would be prosecuted,” Al-Qanemi said.
The National Guards commander added, “All those arrested, particularly in this province, either came from Iran or have been influenced and funded by Iran to carry out their operations”.
