Iraq unrest triangle: Saudi Arabia-Turkey-Qatar

Former Iranian lawmaker says that some countries are trying to spread unrest from Syria to Iraq and that it is likely to be dangerous for people both in Iraq and in the region.
Heshmatollah Falahat Pisheh in interview to Mehr News Agency pointed to attempts to shift crisis from Syria to Iraq and said that the first issue to contribute to crisis in Iraq is President Talabani’s illness, he being both the president and someone who kept balance in Iraq and prevented clashes between groups.

Falahat Pisheh stressed the fact that Talabani’s absence is felt both in the central government and Kurdistan Autonomous region. “This is the main cause and the other is the impact of regional developments on Iraq,” he said.

Turkey-Qatar-Saudi Arabia triangle in attempts to unsettle Iraq

The former Iranian lawmaker believed Turkey-Qatar-Saudi Arabia triangle to act strongly for inducing unrest in Iraq and added that “the three countries are unhappy with Maliki and his policies for two reasons: first, his close ties with Iran; and these countries believe that Iraq has been too close to Iran in its policies.”

“The second reason is Maliki’s policies on Syria, which they do not see as in line with Arab countries’. Maleki’s policies on Syria and Iran, though, are based on regional circumstances and not some interventionist policies that are taken by the Turkey-Qatar-Saudi Arabia triangle,” he added.

Falahat Pisheh pointed out that some ultra-regional countries are provoking unrest in Iraq, asserting that based on the International Monetary Fund, Iraq is in such situations that if it continued its development the way it does, in 12 years it could be one of the countries with constant growth rate.

“The worst threat for Iraq is disagreement among the elite. For their hostility with Saddam, the previous generation of Iraqi political elite had arrived at a kind of symbiosis where they took parallel measures. But if this generation is gone, the new generation can wreak chaos on Iraq in the future,’ he added.

This political analyst on Iraq asserted that “on one hand the situation in Iraq is disturbing for some players like US. US position is different from that of the triangle. They are concerned that a Salafist government close to al-Qaida is formed in Iraq, similar to what al-Nusra pursues in Syria.”

“Unprecedentedly, US and Iran’s positions have converged in Iraq and both agree that in the present situation, Iraq should avoid unrest,” he asserted.

Falahat Pisheh pointed out that new interventionist bodies have contributed to Iraqi unrest. “Qatar, representing Western countries, Saudi Arabia, representing Wahhabism in the region, and Turkey, representing secularism, do the job and won’t let Iraq settle,” he said.

Iran’s soft policy on Iraq has many supporters

He also provided comments on the role of the Islamic republic of Iran in Iraq. “Islamic Republic of Iran policy was formed since the beginning of developments in Iraq when Saddam Hussein was in power and the Salah al-Din meeting in 2003. Iraqi people would profit from the policy, and Iran had respected public opinion in Iraq the most.”

“For the very reason, Iranian soft policy has found many advocates in Iraq. Now Iraqis do not consider Iran as an interventionist, but Saudi Arabia and other countries,” he said.

He stressed the fact that this soft policy on Iraq must be adopted. “Unfortunately, some countries like Turkey, although benefiting from Iraq up to $13b., provoke unrest in the country. Saudi Arabia and Qatar also follow the same policy. Iran’s policy in Iraq is a moderate one and it should be carried on.”