Iran sending “lethal aid” to Iraq – US envoy
Washington, 6 August (IranVNC)—A senior US diplomat today accused Iran of undermining security gains in Iraq by sending “lethal aid” to militias there and by offering “sanctuary” to Mahdi Army militiamen who fled the country.
By: IranVNC
Published: Wednesday, August 06, 2008
20:00GMT—4:00PM/EST
US – IRAN – IRAQ – UN
Washington, 6 August (IranVNC)—A senior US diplomat today accused Iran of undermining security gains in Iraq by sending “lethal aid” to militias there and by offering “sanctuary” to Mahdi Army militiamen who fled the country.
Speaking to the United Nations Security Council today, US Deputy Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff said: “During the recent operations in Basra, Sadr City and Maysan, Iraqi troops uncovered convincing evidence that Iranian lethal aid has continued to flow into Iraq.”
“In addition, during these operations, numerous Jaysh al-Mahdi militia fighters and leaders from Jaysh al-Mahdi’s associated, highly-trained Special Groups fled to Iran, where they received sanctuary,” he said.
Wolff, who was making an annual report to the Council on behalf of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, also called on Iran to end its “lethal activities” in that country.
“The lethal activities of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps – Qods Force contradict Iran’s publicly stated policy of supporting the Iraqi Government and must cease,” he said.
The U.S. has repeatedly accused Iran of sending weapons and funds to Shiite militias in Iraq, and the military has said in recent months has said it discovered Iranian-made weapons caches throughout Iraq.
But Iran’s envoy, Mehdi Danesh Yazdi, immediately rejected the accusations in a statement circulated at the United Nations.
“The US government unwarrantedly insists on its unacceptable behavior in scapegoating others, including Iran, for its own wrong policies in Iraq in order to distract the attentions from the sources of US failures in that country,” Reuters quoted the statement as saying.
Asked to respond to Iran’s refutations in a news conference after his remarks to the Security Council, Wolff told reporters that Iran was attempting to shift the blame.
“The burden should be on Iran to stop and desist from providing assistance support to terrorist groups and elements inside Iraq”, he said.
Sources: United States Mission to the United Nations website, Reuters
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