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Tehran rejects US weapons claims | Tehran rejects US weapons claims |
(20 minutes later) | |
Iran has rejected allegations by US officials that it has been supplying weapons to Shia militias in Iraq as baseless propaganda. | Iran has rejected allegations by US officials that it has been supplying weapons to Shia militias in Iraq as baseless propaganda. |
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Washington had a long history of fabricating evidence. | Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Washington had a long history of fabricating evidence. |
On Sunday, US officials said they had proof that Iran had provided sophisticated weapons which had been used to kill American soldiers in Iraq. | On Sunday, US officials said they had proof that Iran had provided sophisticated weapons which had been used to kill American soldiers in Iraq. |
The US claims have not been independently verified. | The US claims have not been independently verified. |
The Bush administration denies it is planning to invade Iran but has indicated it is willing to use military force to deal with any Iranian interference inside Iraq. | The Bush administration denies it is planning to invade Iran but has indicated it is willing to use military force to deal with any Iranian interference inside Iraq. |
Senior Democrats have urged the administration to be cautious about accusing Iran of fomenting violence in Iraq. | Senior Democrats have urged the administration to be cautious about accusing Iran of fomenting violence in Iraq. |
'No intervention' | 'No intervention' |
US defence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters in Baghdad that the bombs were being used to deadly effect, killing more than 170 US troops since June 2004. | US defence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters in Baghdad that the bombs were being used to deadly effect, killing more than 170 US troops since June 2004. |
The US recently increased troop numbers to counteract the violence | The US recently increased troop numbers to counteract the violence |
The weapons known as "explosively formed penetrators" (EFPs) are capable of destroying an Abrams tank. | The weapons known as "explosively formed penetrators" (EFPs) are capable of destroying an Abrams tank. |
Mr Hosseini said the allegations were "propaganda". | Mr Hosseini said the allegations were "propaganda". |
"The US accusations from the past months concerning Iran's implication in the troubles in Iraq are without foundation," said foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini. | "The US accusations from the past months concerning Iran's implication in the troubles in Iraq are without foundation," said foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini. |
"They have made these allegations with the aim of creating propaganda and these are unacceptable allegations," he told reporters. | "They have made these allegations with the aim of creating propaganda and these are unacceptable allegations," he told reporters. |
We assess that these activities are coming from the senior levels of the Iranian government US official US claims against Iraq: Why now? | We assess that these activities are coming from the senior levels of the Iranian government US official US claims against Iraq: Why now? |
Any intervention in Iraq's internal affairs would weaken its government, and Iran was opposed to this, he said, adding that even the US Congress was unconvinced by the claims. | Any intervention in Iraq's internal affairs would weaken its government, and Iran was opposed to this, he said, adding that even the US Congress was unconvinced by the claims. |
Democratic Senator Chris Dodd said the Bush administration had tried to falsify evidence before, and it would be a mistake to create a premise for future military action. | Democratic Senator Chris Dodd said the Bush administration had tried to falsify evidence before, and it would be a mistake to create a premise for future military action. |
Another senior Democrat, Senator John Kerry, said that people should "listen to those of us in Congress who have said we've got to engage in the region". | Another senior Democrat, Senator John Kerry, said that people should "listen to those of us in Congress who have said we've got to engage in the region". |
Elite brigade | Elite brigade |
The BBC's Jane Peel attended a briefing in Baghdad, at which all cameras and recording devices were banned and where examples of the allegedly smuggled weapons were put on display. | The BBC's Jane Peel attended a briefing in Baghdad, at which all cameras and recording devices were banned and where examples of the allegedly smuggled weapons were put on display. |
HAVE YOUR SAY I think these claims are made to pave the way for another war. Reza Hosseini, Tehran Send us your comments | |
The US officials said intelligence analysts believed the bombs were manufactured in Iran and secretly sent to Iraqi Shia militants on the orders of senior officials in Tehran. | The US officials said intelligence analysts believed the bombs were manufactured in Iran and secretly sent to Iraqi Shia militants on the orders of senior officials in Tehran. |
"We assess that these activities are coming from the senior levels of the Iranian government," one official said. | "We assess that these activities are coming from the senior levels of the Iranian government," one official said. |
He pointed the finger at Iran's elite al-Quds brigade, a unit of the Revolutionary Guards, saying that a senior commander from the brigade had been one of five Iranians seized by US forces in a raid in the Iraqi town of Irbil in January. | He pointed the finger at Iran's elite al-Quds brigade, a unit of the Revolutionary Guards, saying that a senior commander from the brigade had been one of five Iranians seized by US forces in a raid in the Iraqi town of Irbil in January. |
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