Are we witnessing the emergence of a Shia crescent?
“If anybody a year ago had said the United States and Iran might today be cooperating in dealing with a major international crisis, they would have been regarded as deranged.”— The Guardian Editorial
Over the years, the official narrative advocated by both Washington and Tehran is that America and Iran are adversaries competing with one another for influence in the Middle East. But the civil war in Syria and more recently Iraq’s sectarian infighting challenges this assertion on multiple fronts. There is a growing body of evidence that points to collusion instead of rivalry as the main factor in shaping relations between the two countries.
Just take a look at some of the recent news headlines. “ISIS is the best thing to happen to Iran-US relations in years”, blurts out the Washington Post. “Strange bedfellows: US-Iran cooperate on crisis in Iraq”, says The Daily Star. According to CNN: “US and Iran: From sworn enemies to partners on Iraq?” While the Jewish newspaper Haaretz complains, “The US shouldn’t beg Iran to act on Iraq and Syria”. On economic matters, Russia Today reports, “US company signs billion-dollar energy deal with Iran”.
Ever since, US President Obama announced a nuclear deal with Iran back in January 2014, cooperation between the two countries has become more transparent. This apparent openness has forced many to review America’s political actions in Syria and Iraq— where Tehran is actively involved in providing unstinting support to both Assad and Al Maliki.
Take Syria for example – America has patiently watched Iran bolster Assad’s floundering regime through billions of dollars in aid, weapons, and Iranian special forces collaborating with Hezbollah fighters and Assad’s henchmen. Despite Assad crossing Obama’s red lines on several occasions, America has refused punish Assad or its backer Tehran.
Similarly, Iran for several years has provided money, arms and men to help Maliki subdue the Sunni resistance in Iraq. Even today, as Sunni militants advance towards Baghdad, Iran is providing drone surveillance, military advisors and other methods of support to help the Shias in Baghdad and South of the country shore up their defences. Again, despite America’s bellowing rhetoric against Iranian interference, the Obama administration has been reaching out to Tehran to explore ways on how best to stop the advance of Sunni fighters. One measure that has been welcomed in Washington is the joint strikes carried out by Syrian and Iraqi jet fighters against Sunni targets.
The picture that emerges from both Iraq and Syria is one in which Alawaite and Shia governments are waging a brutal war against their respective Sunni populations under the patronage of Iran. By America publicly refusing to get involved in both conflicts and simultaneously preferring to solicit Iranian support, conveys the impression that America is intentionally backing the current status quo. Hence, one is forced to conclude that perhaps America would like to see the creation of a Shia crescent that stretches all the way from Lebanon to Yemen. Conveniently, such a collection of states aided and abetted by Iran would place the oil of the Middle East into the hands of the Shia, who in turn would be indebted to America’s benevolence. In January 2010, King Abdullah of Jordon in an interview with Farid Zakaria at Davos Switzerland warned about Iran’s efforts to fuel sectarian hatred and the rise of the Shia crescent. He said, “Certain members – of the Iranian government using an agenda to create the perception of a Shia crescent… I saw a political strategy that would as an endgame have the Sunnis and Shias at each other’s throats … the fault line between Shias and Sunnis goes from Beirut all the way to Bombay and it’s a catastrophic subject to play with.”
To ensure that Iranian expansionism does not get too big for American policy makers to handle, America in cohorts with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries is arming and funding several Sunni jihadi groups. The ensuing result is sectarian strife on a massive scale, where Sunnis and Shias are fighting each other to carve out their zones of influence. Some of these could turn out to be mini states, for instance ISIL’s recent declaration is one such attempt. The other is the push by the Kurds for independence. Across the border in Syria there is talk of dividing Syria into several parts. There is little doubt that America has deliberately instigated this, and on the face of it, Iran not Saudi Arabia appears to be principal regional benefactor.
Once again it is the people of the region that are suffering, as America works to put its own version of Sykes-Picot agreement in place through sell out rulers. America does not care how many Muslims are killed in the process, so long as it is able secure its vital interests, even if this means new countries are created out of old ones.
The only salvation for the Muslims of the region is to put their differences aside. The first step in this process is to unite on the basis of Islam. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says,
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
“Hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and do not separate. Remember Allah’s blessing to you when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together so that you became brothers by His blessing. You were on the very brink of a pit of the Fire and He rescued you from it. In this way Allah makes His Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will be guided.”
(Ali Imran: 103)
The second step is to give the unity a political authority that is independent of America and western inspired agents. This can only be achieved through the re-establishment of the rightly guided Caliphate by Muslims giving bayah to a Caliph who will rule according to the Quran and Sunnah of the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
«مَنْ مَاتَ وَلَيْسَ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ مَاتَ مَيْتَةً جَاهِلِيَّةً»
“Whoever dies without a bayah on his neck, dies the death of Jahiliyah.”
[Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Immarah]
The third step is to oppose internationally Western plans and plots that are focussed on dividing and exploiting Muslim lands and making Muslims engaged in cheap struggles. The Caliphate should use all of its might and power to cut the hand of any foreign power that dares divide the Muslim ummah. Only then will Muslims be able to live in peace and security. Allah سبحانه وتعالى says,
وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
“On that day, the believers will rejoice in Allah’s help. He grants victory to whoever He wills. He is the Almighty, the Most Merciful.”
(Ar-Rum, 30:4-5)
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Abu Hashim