Baghdad: Unlike the past few months, Iraqis in Shiite southern provinces especially those close to the Iraqi-Iranian borders are dismayed whenever they see Iranians because of the recent fighting in different parts of Iraq.
Humam Al Gharawi, an Iraqi citizen in Maysan province close to the Iraqi-Iranian border, told Gulf News: "Too many elites and intellectuals who live in the province are resentful to see Iranian convoys heading towards Iraq's holy cities of Karbala and Najaf although these visits are a good financial source for Iraqis because of the religious tourism. Yet it seems the latest bloody events in Basra and Sadr City in Baghdad between the Mahdi Army militia and Iraqi forces have caused a lot of Shiite Iraqis to begin blaming Iran for the deterioration of security and the Shiite-Shiite fighting."
Before one month, Iranians were the most welcome of foreigners in Iraqi Shiite provinces. Citizens of these provinces were keen to host Iranian tourists who had come to visit the shrines of Imam Hussain and Al Abbas in Karbala and Imam Ali in Najaf with great generosity.
Sa'ad Al Ameri, owner of a guest house in Karbala, said: "When Iranian visitors used to come to the city, it used to bring happiness to my heart ... Now Iranians call me from different Iranian cities to reserve at my guest house and I accept, but unlike before. Our hearts are filled with pain because of the Iranian government and the problems that affect our life because of the Iranian interference and support of armed groups, despite Iranian people having nothing to do with these problems."
Inspections
Often Iranians enter and wander the holy Iraqi cities without inspections or any security measures but now things have changed. Iranians are subjected to strict inspections including the identification and goods they carry with them.
Saddiq Al Mayahi, an officer in the Iraqi army in Najaf, said to Gulf News: "There are instructions issued by the security authorities that we should search Iranian visitors extensively and rigorously. There also has been harsh security treatment because many of the weapons we found in stores are made in Iran and that means all the confusion we live in as Iraqis and Shiites is because of Iran."
In the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf in particular, many Iraqi traders prefer partnerships with Iranian merchants. Also, many of Iraq's tourist facilities which are built or prepared to accommodate religious tourists of various nationalities are owned by Iraqis and Iranians on the private sector level.
