Analysis: Jordan's Accusations of Iranian Interference in Iraq Motivated by US

Iran's relative success in solving its nuclear file and the start of expert talks between Iran and Europe, along with America's failures in Iraq, have forced the White House to play other cards against Iran. In this connection, America encouraged the king of Jordan to accuse Iran of interfering in Iraq's domestic affairs, in a coordinated move with Rumsfeld, the American secretary of defense. The amateurish accusations of the Iraqi defense minister, who described Iran as the main artery for sending help to the terrorists inside Iraq revealed the disgrace of the behind-the-scenes collusion.

In this connection, Al-Dustur newspaper, published in Jordan, wrote in its latest edition: "There is close coordination (hamahang) between the positions of Sha'lan (Iraqi defense minister) and the American forces towards Iran and Syria." Al-Dustur believes that Sha'lan's accusations against Iran demonstrate the emergence of clashes among Iraqi leaders over the division of power. Meanwhile, the Egyptian attorney general has accused an Iranian diplomat of spying and trying to harm the interests of Cairo and Riyadh.

In an interview with the American television network MSNBC on the presidential elections in Iraq on 31 January, the king of Jordan claimed that necessary red lines must be drawn, because otherwise certain circumstances may arise that will create instability in the Persian Gulf states and the entire region and will make it much harder for the presence of American forces in the Middle East. At the same time, Israeli radio claimed that the testing of fast neutrons in a secret place under the supervision of the (Islamic) Revolutionary Guards has cast doubt on Tehran's claims about its peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The foreign minister of the Zionist regime, Shalom, described Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Hizballah as the main obstacles on the path to the implementation of the Zionist regime's goals. Speaking in the annual conference at Herzliyyah University, Silvan Shalom magnified the threats posed by Iran and Hizballah to the Zionist regime. He went so far as to say that Tehran was not only a threat to that regime, but to the whole of Europe. Referring to Iran's nuclear capability, he described it as an international threat. Addressing France, Germany, and England, he said: "If Iran gains access to nuclear weapons, it will be able to target their capitals."

If we study the recent propaganda war waged by Iran's enemies, we will see that it demonstrates their renewed use of old tricks that America has used for the past 25 years. Iran is very familiar with these tricks. However, as to why such accusations are raised at this time, it must be clearly connected with America's defeat in Iraq and the failure of the White House to force Iran to accept the unconditional surrender of its nuclear program.

The American ruling establishment never anticipated the resolute resistance in Iraq. In view of Iraq's vast oil reserves, the US ruling establishment had hoped to gain control of the region's oil lifeline. For that reason, without the authorization of the United Nations, America invaded Iraq. Let us not forget that the main elements in the American ruling establishment, such as Dick Cheney and Rice, were either among the directors or shareholders of big oil companies, or, like Bush, Wolfowitz, Perle, Bolton, Rumsfeld, and... (ellipses as published) had close links with the interests and investments of big oil companies.

In view of these facts, one can look for the main motivations behind the hostile propaganda against Iran at the present juncture among the following factors. With the aim of security, the security of Israel and its other agents in the region, the White House is intent on preventing the formation of any independent power center in the Middle East. Iran's access to the complete nuclear fuel cycle and its peaceful use of that technology will place Iran among the 10 powerful countries of the world and can turn Iran into a model for other countries in the region. The emergence of a center of power against Israel could, in turn, encourage the leaders and the people of the region to support the liberation activities of the Palestinian people.

Let us not forget that gaining experience in nuclear technology is not limited to providing fuel for reactors. Its application for medical and industrial purposes could help the country save billions of dollars in foreign currency and could enhance the country's standing in the international order.

Although, by invading Iraq, America succeeded in signing huge contracts with that country, especially in the oil fields, nevertheless the course of developments have so far not been in accordance with the White House's expectations. Last week, Iraqi television claimed that the value of the agreements signed in Iraq by the American company Halliburton has exceeded $10 billion. Putting out the fires, repairing the damage, and reconstructing oil installations in Iraq are some of the tasks given to Halliburton. On the other hand, the cost of the occupation is also very high, and the Pentagon has asked for $25 billion of extra budget for its activities in Iraq.

The operation in Al-Fallujah was a kind of defeat for the occupying forces, because the aim of the operations was to put an end to the resistance. In practice, however, those operations have intensified the resistance. The explosions in Karbala and Al-Najaf that have resulted in hundreds of dead and injured took place after the American attack on Al-Fallujah and as the time for elections in Iraq is drawing closer.

Throughout the period of Saddam's rule, some of Iraq's neighbors had friendly relations with that regime. As the result of the eight-year imposed (Iran-Iraq) war against Iran, the transit of goods and weapons, and receiving cheaper oil, these countries made huge profits. Meanwhile, Jordan stood by Saddam during his war against Kuwait, and that decision brought disrepute to that country and its immature politicians.

Now, those countries are worried about their future. They are trying to somehow prevent the holding of election in Iraq or to undermine it to some extent, so that if they were questioned by future Iraqi leaders about their many years of collaboration with the criminal in Baghdad, they can make use of the alleged illegitimacy of the Iraqi rulers. On the other hand, the holding of elections in Iraq, their neighboring, even under occupation can be regarded as an alarm for the royal families. It is possible that, sooner or later, the people in those countries may also demand to hold elections and to get rid of the domination of the royal families.

It is not without reason that, in an undemocratic and interfering way, they are trying to buy ballots in Iraq, and are making every effort to prevent the holding of a healthy election. Through these means, these countries are trying to safeguard their own future. They are also trying to find an excuse to justify their own domestic problems and achieve a greater share in Iraq's future system in order to minimize the possibility that their treason against the Iraqi nation over the past 30 years will be exposed.

In this connection, following the remarks by the king of Jordan and Sha'lan, one can understand the motivation and the meaning behind the two massive explosions in Karbala and Al-Najaf that killed or wounded hundreds of Iraqi citizens. Those explosions revealed the incessant and cruel efforts of the American agents in the region, especially Jordan, to interfere in Iraq's domestic affairs by making use of the intelligence services that have been left behind from Saddam's regime and of Jordanian money. In this way, they hope to prevent the holding of the election and the gradual withdrawal of the occupying forces from Iraq. Due to his lack of a popular base, the king of Jordan sees that his continued existence depends on foreign support, especially from America and England.

Egypt is a major Arab country. The expansion of relations between that country and Iran can create a new axis in the Middle East, which so far has not been taken into consideration in the regional power equations. As a result, any time there is the possibility to improve bilateral relations between these two countries, America and Israel start to create obstacles. The recent remarks by the Egyptian prosecutor general will have the same fate as all previous allegations, and in time they will be proved to have been false and baseless. Let us not forget that, for a long time, America has been pressuring Egypt to lay the groundwork for signing economic agreements with Israel, so that after Jordan, Egypt can act as an economic bridge for the Zionist regime in the region.

In this connection, efforts were made to raise new claims so that the Egyptian people may feel that, despite all of its technical and economic capabilities and common cultural characteristics, Iran is not a trustworthy country and that they cannot count on its potential assets. As a result, they should look for other channels for economic and industrial development and expansion.

In view of the above facts, at a time when expert talks between Iran and Europe have started in order to implement the Paris Agreement, America, in a reactionary move, practically vetoed Iran's request for membership in the World Trade Organization once again. Iran has asked to join the WTO many times over the past few years. In addition, along with some inexperienced politicians in the region, America has also accused Iran of interfering in Iraq's domestic affairs. This is despite the fact that America's unauthorized invasion and occupation of Iraq, as well its efforts to pressure the board of governors (of the IAEA) to increase their pressure on Iran can drag the world toward an unwanted confrontation with uncontrollable powers and plunge all of the countries in the region into a serious crisis.

(Description of Source: Tehran E'temad (Internet Version-WWW) in Persian -- Reformist daily published in Tehran; licensed to the Majles deputy from Rasht Elias Hazrati and managed by Behruz Behzadi)

Translated from the original by WNC.