Iran involved in Sadr City truce, says Iraqi MP

By Waleed Ibrahim

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iran played a prominent role in a deal struck by Iraqi Shi'ite factions to end seven weeks of fighting in the Baghdad stronghold of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a senior Shi'ite Iraqi legislator said on Monday.

Ali al-Adeeb, a member of the ruling Shi'ite alliance who is close to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said an Iraqi delegation that went to Tehran almost two weeks ago asked for Iranian help because of Tehran's influence over Sadr's movement.

Adeeb's comments illustrated the growing sway Shi'ite Iran has in Iraq and could unsettle Washington.

The deal to end fighting between security forces and gunmen loyal to the anti-American Sadr was unveiled on Saturday. It was announced after talks between the ruling Shi'ite alliance and Sadr's political movement, which has seats in parliament.

"The Iranians gave a positive response to the demands made by the delegation. They gave those demands to the Sadrist decision makers because they have specific influence on those people," Adeeb, who was part of the delegation, told Reuters.

He did not say whether Iranian officials spoke to Sadr, who the U.S. military says is living in Iran where he is believed to be taking advanced Islamic studies.

Washington, at loggerheads with Tehran over Iran's nuclear ambitions, has blamed much of the violence in Sadr City on rogue elements of his Mehdi Army militia.

It says these groups are armed, trained and funded by Iran. Tehran denies the allegation and says the violence in Iraq is caused by the presence of U.S. forces.