Asharqiya TV, Iraq, October 13, 2008 – Sheikh Kazim al-Anizan, head of Southern Iraqi Tribes Council, condemned the Iranian regime’s stonewalling the US-Iraq security agreement approval.
Q: General Odierno said that some Iraqi parliamentarians are after getting bribe from Iran for rejecting the security agreement between Iraq and the US. Do you believe that Iran is trying to bribe the tribal sheikhs, especially in southern Iraq?
Sheikh Kazim al-Anizan: In fact we previously warned against the threats of Iran’s influence and role across Iraq, especially in the south. What General Odierno has said is correct. We, in the southern tribes council, first opposed signing the security agreement between Iraq and the US, but when we learned that Iran seeks to pursue its plot for hidden occupation of Iraq, we decided to support such agreement on the condition of being fair.
Who has given Iran the right to guardianship over Iraq? And who has obliged Iran to reject what the people and parliament of Iraq endorse?
Iran has given this right to itself and its affiliated parties in the government to oppose signing the agreement and to prevent it from being ratified.
Today, Iran is even confronting the Iraqi Prime Minister. Iran assassinates Member of Parliament, Dr. Salih al-Ukaily, and the government has said it was done by the special groups.
