Evidence Iran trying to influence Iraqi elections

WASHINGTON, March 16 (KUNA) -- There is "worrisome" evidence that Iran is trying to use money to influence the Iraqi elections to sway candidates and votes, Secretary of Defense James Mattis said Thursday.
"It's not an insignificant amount of money, we believe. And we think it's highly unhelpful. Iran should leave the Iraqis to determine their own future," he told reporters during a gaggle en route to the US follow his visits to Oman, Afghanistan and Bahrain.
The Secretary could not speculate if Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi was being undermined and does not "know the effectiveness" of Iran's activities.
However, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp and the Iranian Navy "don't seem to be engaging in the same provocative behavior" against US ships in Arabian Gulf waters as before, Mattis said.
"This isn't just a subjective analysis -- (the) number of incidents, and how far are they staying from the ships -- specific distances. So that's why we can say that right now. I don't know why, but that's what's happening." He addressed that there are still reports of Iranian activity "in Syria and what's going on. Even in Afghanistan, we find Iran doing things that are not helpful as we try to reconcile and end the war." (end) ak.gta