‘Big Country…Big Problems’

Iran's influence in Iraq is growing.After Iraqi troops clashed with Shia militants in the southern city of Basra last March, the eventual ceasefire wasn't hammered out inside Iraq. Instead, the agreement was negotiated in Iran with the help of the commander of the Revolutionary GuardQuds Force. For now, an uneasy calm has settled across Basra as Iraqi army troops and police have fanned out across the city. However, Iran's role in quelling the violence hasn't softened the criticism of Tehran.One senior Iraqi official says the Iranian consulate in Basra is "a center for Iranian intelligence gathering under a legal cover." And U.S. military officials still accuse Iran of helping Shia militia groups like those run by hardline cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Mohammad Reza Baghban is on the frontline of those accusations.As Tehran'sconsul general and point man in Basra for the past two years, hetook the heat when 11 British sailors were taken captiveby Revolutionary Guard forces off the coast of Basra last year and his convoy has been ambushed more than once while traveling through the city. Still, he maintains a sense of humor and brushes off accusations of Iranian meddling in Iraq. NEWSWEEK's Babak Dehghanpisheh recently met with Baghban at the Iranian consulate in Basra.

NEWSWEEK: Has the security situation improved since the British pulled back from Basra last December?
Baghban:There have been a lot of ups and downs. When the English were here it wasn't an ideal situation. The occupiers, because of their ignorance and their lack of understanding of social traditions, have created a lot of problems for the people. 

Did the recent security operation by the Iraqi government help?
There has been a noticeable improvement in the security situation. Some of the insecurity and kidnapping has gone down. And the reason is the increase of the security forces in the city. But if the unemployment and other economic problems aren't resolved there could be more instability.

Were there any clashes around you in this latest round of violence?
No, the clashes were mainly in the center and west of [Basra]. There wasn't much happening around here. As a matter of fact, after the British left it got calmer. Because when they were around, it was an excuse [for militants] to fire mortars and rockets. Sometimes they would put bombs in their path.

Have you been attacked?
Yes.

Was someone deliberately targeting you?
The Iraqis haven't told us the result of their investigation. But we're not in the same danger as the British.

Are you in touch with American or British reps in Basra?
We have no contact with the Americans. The British and Americans are based about 200 kilometers [about 120 miles] from here [laughing] at the airport. They don't have any contact with Iraqi society other than special occasions--unlike us who live among the people and have a lot of contact with them. We have very limited contact with the British. Their consulate is not very active.