Protests in Iran at Najaf actions

By Pam O'Toole
BBC regional analyst

Iran's Shias are angered by US military operations in Najaf

Thousands of Iranians took to Tehran's streets after Friday prayers to protest what they call "atrocities" by US forces in the holy Iraqi city of Najaf.

A smaller number of demonstrators later made their way to the British embassy, calling for its closure and for the expulsion of the British ambassador.

The protests come at a time of growing tension between Iran and Iraq.

Baghdad has made fresh allegations that Iran is aiding radical Iraqi Shia groups.

Kidnapping accusation

This week's military operation in Najaf has stirred up strong feelings among Iran's Shias.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the senior hardline cleric who led Friday prayers in Tehran, strongly attacked Iraq's interim government for allowing US forces to enter Najaf.

Alex Vatanka, an expert on Iran with Jane's Sentinel in London, says Iran's Shias are angry, irrespective of whether they support the current regime or not.

"As a simple Shia Muslim who has strong religious beliefs, any damage done in the cities of Najaf or Karbala is outrageous," he says.

Iran is also angry about the kidnapping of an Iranian diplomat in Iraq.

Some elements in Iran have alleged Washington was behind the kidnapping, regarding it as an attempt by the Americans to drive a wedge between Tehran and Baghdad.

Cooling relations

Iran has undoubtedly been stepping up its long running religious, cultural and economic ties with the Shia community in southern Iraq.

US officials say Iran alone cannot be blamed for the Najaf uprising

Iraq's defence minister recently accused Iran of providing weapons to militiamen loyal to cleric Moqtada Sadr.

But Mr Vatanka says such allegations against Iran, while increasingly frequent, are extremely difficult to prove, particularly given the different power bases in Iran itself.

"There is lots of speculation that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which is a very political wing of the Iranian state machinery, is pursuing its own distinct agenda in Iraq," he says.

"And it can't be dismissed that they are involved in assisting certain militants in Iraq.

But, says Mr Vatanka, it is unlikely they are behind all the problems in Iraq.

"Even US military officials came out recently and said you can't blame the Najaf uprising on Iran alone," he says.

Relations between Iran and Iraq were increasingly tense even before this week's fighting in Najaf.

Now it seems, they could cool still further.