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| US releases nine Iranians in Iraq | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The US military in Iraq has released nine of the 20 Iranian citizens it has detained there, including two held on suspicion of helping Shia militants. | |
| The release followed a review of their cases which concluded that the men no longer posed a security risk and were "of no continued intelligence value". | The release followed a review of their cases which concluded that the men no longer posed a security risk and were "of no continued intelligence value". |
| The Iranians were released to the Iraqi government, which later reportedly gave them to the Iranian embassy in Baghdad. | |
| Tehran has dismissed US accusations that it is aiding insurgents in Iraq. | Tehran has dismissed US accusations that it is aiding insurgents in Iraq. |
| In October, the US declared the overseas operations arm of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) a "supporter of terrorism", saying it was supplying and training Shia militants in Iraq. | In October, the US declared the overseas operations arm of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) a "supporter of terrorism", saying it was supplying and training Shia militants in Iraq. |
| 'Careful review' | 'Careful review' |
| Two of those freed on Friday were among five Iranian officials detained by US forces in an "intelligence-driven raid" on an office in the same building as the Iranian consulate in the Kurdish city of Irbil in January. | Two of those freed on Friday were among five Iranian officials detained by US forces in an "intelligence-driven raid" on an office in the same building as the Iranian consulate in the Kurdish city of Irbil in January. |
| Their detention has been the subject of intense protests by the Iranian government and lobbying by Iraqi authorities. | Their detention has been the subject of intense protests by the Iranian government and lobbying by Iraqi authorities. |
| The release followed a careful review of individual records to determine if they posed a security threat to Iraq, and if their detention was of continued intelligence value US military statement US turns heat up on Iran Timeline: US-Iran ties | The release followed a careful review of individual records to determine if they posed a security threat to Iraq, and if their detention was of continued intelligence value US military statement US turns heat up on Iran Timeline: US-Iran ties |
| The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also objected, saying the office and its personnel were known to them. | The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) also objected, saying the office and its personnel were known to them. |
| The other seven Iranians being freed had been picked up in different parts of the country and held for periods ranging between three months and three years. | The other seven Iranians being freed had been picked up in different parts of the country and held for periods ranging between three months and three years. |
| The US military said two of the men were captured "during a raid to disrupt al-Qaeda operations", while another was held after a raid "aimed at capturing a senior insurgent". | The US military said two of the men were captured "during a raid to disrupt al-Qaeda operations", while another was held after a raid "aimed at capturing a senior insurgent". |
| "The release followed a careful review of individual records to determine if they posed a security threat to Iraq, and if their detention was of continued intelligence value," the military said in a statement. | "The release followed a careful review of individual records to determine if they posed a security threat to Iraq, and if their detention was of continued intelligence value," the military said in a statement. |
| "Based on this review, all nine individuals were determined to no longer pose a security risk and to be of no continued intelligence value." | "Based on this review, all nine individuals were determined to no longer pose a security risk and to be of no continued intelligence value." |
| After the men were transferred by Iraqi authorities to the Iranian embassy, they were driven to Baghdad International Airport for a flight to Tehran, the Iranian official news agency, IRNA, reported. | |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the releases, although they leave a further 11 Iranians still in detention, might be seen as heralding something of a thaw between the US and Iran - at least in Iraq. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the releases, although they leave a further 11 Iranians still in detention, might be seen as heralding something of a thaw between the US and Iran - at least in Iraq. |
| US military commanders have hinted they are beginning to sense a greater effort by Iran to stop weapons and explosives crossing the border, our correspondent says. | US military commanders have hinted they are beginning to sense a greater effort by Iran to stop weapons and explosives crossing the border, our correspondent says. |