This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/13/world/middleeast/as-sunni-militants-threaten-its-allies-in-baghdad-iran-weighs-options.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| As Sunni Militants Threaten Its Allies in Baghdad, Iran Weighs Options | As Sunni Militants Threaten Its Allies in Baghdad, Iran Weighs Options |
| (2 months later) | |
| TEHRAN — In years past, Iranian officials would smirk when recalling how the United States had done the dirty work for them by removing the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, a Sunni who led an eight-year war against Shiite Iran. | |
| To top it off, the American military actively helped an Iran-friendly government of Shiites to consolidate power and then voluntarily pulled out. With precious little investment, Iran had gained a critical ally. | To top it off, the American military actively helped an Iran-friendly government of Shiites to consolidate power and then voluntarily pulled out. With precious little investment, Iran had gained a critical ally. |
| But now, with Sunni extremists running roughshod over northern Iraq and heading for Baghdad, the situation is decidedly darker. Not only do fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria now pose a direct threat to the pro-Iranian government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, but they have promised to massacre Shiites and destroy their shrines in Najaf and Karbala. | But now, with Sunni extremists running roughshod over northern Iraq and heading for Baghdad, the situation is decidedly darker. Not only do fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria now pose a direct threat to the pro-Iranian government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, but they have promised to massacre Shiites and destroy their shrines in Najaf and Karbala. |
| Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, a spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, released a statement saying that the group worships a lord who spreads “terror” in the hearts of Shiites and “will force them to flee.” He calls Mr. Maliki an “underwear merchant” and a “fool,” and threatens to take the fight directly to the Shiite holy cities Najaf and Karbala, the burial sites of the founder of the Shiite faith, Imam Ali, and its greatest general, Imam Hossein. | Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, a spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, released a statement saying that the group worships a lord who spreads “terror” in the hearts of Shiites and “will force them to flee.” He calls Mr. Maliki an “underwear merchant” and a “fool,” and threatens to take the fight directly to the Shiite holy cities Najaf and Karbala, the burial sites of the founder of the Shiite faith, Imam Ali, and its greatest general, Imam Hossein. |
| “We need to settle our differences with you,” the statement read. “These differences go back a long way. We will settle our differences not in Samarra or Baghdad, but in Karbala, the filth-ridden city, and in Najaf, the city of polytheism.” | “We need to settle our differences with you,” the statement read. “These differences go back a long way. We will settle our differences not in Samarra or Baghdad, but in Karbala, the filth-ridden city, and in Najaf, the city of polytheism.” |
| In the worst case, if Mr. Maliki were driven from power, the shrines were threatened and radical Sunni insurgents were killing Shiite civilians, Iran would more than likely be compelled to intervene, say experts close to Iran’s leadership. | In the worst case, if Mr. Maliki were driven from power, the shrines were threatened and radical Sunni insurgents were killing Shiite civilians, Iran would more than likely be compelled to intervene, say experts close to Iran’s leadership. |
| “They are our ally and we will help them,” said Hamid Taraghi, a political analyst who is close to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But exactly how Iran would do so is unclear. | “They are our ally and we will help them,” said Hamid Taraghi, a political analyst who is close to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But exactly how Iran would do so is unclear. |
| Iran will more than likely busy itself with organizing Iraq’s security forces and Shiite militias, analysts said, much as it has done in Syria. Its natural reaction will be to avoid any overt involvement, politicians and analysts point out, preferring to act through intermediaries, such as military advisers. | Iran will more than likely busy itself with organizing Iraq’s security forces and Shiite militias, analysts said, much as it has done in Syria. Its natural reaction will be to avoid any overt involvement, politicians and analysts point out, preferring to act through intermediaries, such as military advisers. |
| “Iran will be very careful about becoming directly involved in Iraq,” said Mohammad Reza Noroozpoor, an Iranian journalist with close ties to several Iranian leaders. “There are plenty of Shiites in Iraq itself to fight these people.” | “Iran will be very careful about becoming directly involved in Iraq,” said Mohammad Reza Noroozpoor, an Iranian journalist with close ties to several Iranian leaders. “There are plenty of Shiites in Iraq itself to fight these people.” |
| Any form of direct involvement would come at a high price, with the largest Shiite country in the world becoming an active player in the growing sectarian conflict in the region. | Any form of direct involvement would come at a high price, with the largest Shiite country in the world becoming an active player in the growing sectarian conflict in the region. |
| “Numerous sites could potentially be destroyed or taken hostage by Sunni extremists. They are traps for us, as for any incident there the Shiite world will be looking to us for action,” said one analyst, who asked not to be named because of his critical stance. | “Numerous sites could potentially be destroyed or taken hostage by Sunni extremists. They are traps for us, as for any incident there the Shiite world will be looking to us for action,” said one analyst, who asked not to be named because of his critical stance. |
| “We are in a dilemma. We are a Shiite country, but trying to be the leaders of the entire Muslim world. As a result we can’t even act in our own backyard.” | “We are in a dilemma. We are a Shiite country, but trying to be the leaders of the entire Muslim world. As a result we can’t even act in our own backyard.” |
| Undoubtedly, these issues were discussed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which held an emergency meeting on Thursday on how to deal with the militant offensive. | Undoubtedly, these issues were discussed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which held an emergency meeting on Thursday on how to deal with the militant offensive. |
| Security has been beefed up at the frontiers, and flights to Baghdad, ferrying hundreds of Shiite pilgrims each day, have been halted, leaving about 17,000 Iranians stranded in Iraq, an Iranian official told the state Islamic Republic News Agency on Wednesday. | Security has been beefed up at the frontiers, and flights to Baghdad, ferrying hundreds of Shiite pilgrims each day, have been halted, leaving about 17,000 Iranians stranded in Iraq, an Iranian official told the state Islamic Republic News Agency on Wednesday. |
| “Our leaders are very concerned,” Mr. Taraghi said. “They are closely monitoring events.” | “Our leaders are very concerned,” Mr. Taraghi said. “They are closely monitoring events.” |
| There have been reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have already sent troops to Iraq to fight alongside and help organize Shiite militias. | There have been reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have already sent troops to Iraq to fight alongside and help organize Shiite militias. |
| For now, though, those reports are unconfirmed, and Iran’s political and religious establishment seems to be betting on the American-trained Iraqi security forces that abandoned the battlefield en masse this week when militant pickup trucks came rolling into Mosul. | For now, though, those reports are unconfirmed, and Iran’s political and religious establishment seems to be betting on the American-trained Iraqi security forces that abandoned the battlefield en masse this week when militant pickup trucks came rolling into Mosul. |
| In defiance of the crisis atmosphere, some analysts professed to see a silver lining in the week’s events. | In defiance of the crisis atmosphere, some analysts professed to see a silver lining in the week’s events. |
| “These terrorists used some of Mr. Maliki’s mistakes and plotted against him together with some local Iraqi Army commanders,” said Mr. Noroozpoor. “But his forces will be able to regroup and regain control of those regions. Maliki might even be able to consolidate his power in this way.” | “These terrorists used some of Mr. Maliki’s mistakes and plotted against him together with some local Iraqi Army commanders,” said Mr. Noroozpoor. “But his forces will be able to regroup and regain control of those regions. Maliki might even be able to consolidate his power in this way.” |
| Should the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria manage to consolidate its power in northern Iraq, Iran would be confronted with the fresh headache of propping up yet another weak ally, along with Syria. | Should the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria manage to consolidate its power in northern Iraq, Iran would be confronted with the fresh headache of propping up yet another weak ally, along with Syria. |
| But there is a huge emotional difference between Iraq — the site of the defining battles of the Shiite faith and where the holiest of Shiite saints are buried — and the Syria of President Bashar al-Assad, more an ally of convenience, with only the shrine of Zeinab. | But there is a huge emotional difference between Iraq — the site of the defining battles of the Shiite faith and where the holiest of Shiite saints are buried — and the Syria of President Bashar al-Assad, more an ally of convenience, with only the shrine of Zeinab. |
| “I propose we help Iraq by repeating our good experience,” said Hossein Sheikholislami, an aide to the speaker of Parliament, Ali Larijani, and an important figure in Syrian affairs. “Of course, if they ask officially for our help we can send experts to train the trainers, just as we did in Syria.” | “I propose we help Iraq by repeating our good experience,” said Hossein Sheikholislami, an aide to the speaker of Parliament, Ali Larijani, and an important figure in Syrian affairs. “Of course, if they ask officially for our help we can send experts to train the trainers, just as we did in Syria.” |
| Other analysts dismiss both the militants and the costs of intervening in Iraq. | Other analysts dismiss both the militants and the costs of intervening in Iraq. |
| “This group is not as big and powerful as they seem,” said Mashallah Shamsolvazein, a reformist journalist and analyst of Arab affairs. “If needed, we can enter Iraq and wipe out ISIS easily, but that won’t be necessary.” | “This group is not as big and powerful as they seem,” said Mashallah Shamsolvazein, a reformist journalist and analyst of Arab affairs. “If needed, we can enter Iraq and wipe out ISIS easily, but that won’t be necessary.” |
| “Contrary to the Iraqis who are disorganized, Iran is fully prepared,” Mr. Shamsolvazein said. “Sure, they are brutal warriors, but they are no match for us.” | “Contrary to the Iraqis who are disorganized, Iran is fully prepared,” Mr. Shamsolvazein said. “Sure, they are brutal warriors, but they are no match for us.” |