Iraqi top Shiite clerics are silent on Iran: Via Huffington Post.

NAJAF, Iraq — There is no place outside Iran that has closer links to Tehran's ruling establishment than Iraq's holy Shiite city of Najaf, where the silence during Iran's post-election crisis says much about the deep complexities of their cross-border bonds.

"Simply put, the whole affair does not concern Najaf," said Sheik Ali al-Najafi, son of and spokesman for Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Bashir al-Najafi, one of the city's four top Shiite clerics. "We will not interfere in the internal affairs of a dear, next door neighbor."

The four _ who include Iranian-born Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani _ have remained quiet on the upheavals in Iran since the disputed presidential election June 12. The reasons have to do with both religion and politics.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, father of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, lived here in exile for 16 years. Najaf also is the world's oldest and foremost seat of Shiite learning, and the Imam Ali shrine attracts hundreds of thousands of Iranian visitors every year.

Many of the city's Iraqi residents speak some Persian.

Imam Ali, Prophet Muhammad's cousin and founder of Shiite Islam, is buried in Najaf along with many of the leading Shiite figures through the centuries. A short distance away from his domed shrine lives al-Sistani, who came to Iraq more than 50 years ago but has retained Iranian citizenship.

Despite the deep ties between the clerical establishments in Najaf and Iran, there are important differences.

The Najaf strain of Shiite teaching emphasizes that top clerics should be background figures _ though influential _ on most political affairs.

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Iran's Islamic system, by contrast, bestows all main powers on the non-elected Shiite theocracy.

There had been expectations that the top Najaf clerics could break their traditions and publicly comment on the unrest _ appealing for calm or even coming to the defense of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following the protests over claims that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election was rigged.

But any sign of interference in Iran's affairs by the Najaf clerics, particularly al-Sistani, could prove costly at a time when many Iraqis fear that Iran will try to broaden its influence in their country as the Americans reduce their military presence.

Many Iraqis, even Shiites, still look at Iran with suspicion and worry following the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

"Based on Iran's substantial influence in Iraq, speaking out in favor of one faction over another would be risky and could invite increased Iranian meddling in Iraq," said Michael W. Hanna, a Middle East expert from the Century Foundation in New York.

Such fears resonate in Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad.

"Iran weighs heavily on us here in Najaf," said a longtime al-Sistani aide. "Many ask al-Sistani to speak about Iran, but we are not responding," he added, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

Ordinary Iraqis in Najaf, however, and some of its mid-ranking clerics, don't find a need for such caution.

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Al-Sistani, however, may have other reasons for not making any public statements on Iran.

As an Iranian and the spiritual guide to the Shiite majority in an Arab nation, he might not want to be associated with Iran at a time when many Iraqis resent the influence of their Persian neighbor in their country.

Iran has gained considerable influence in Iraq since the overthrow of Saddam's regime and the rise to power of Shiite parties Tehran supported for years while in exile.

"It will not help us to speak publicly about Iran," said Sheik al-Najafi. "We already have to fight the perception of us as Iranians on account of our faith."

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