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US Finding More Iranian Arms in Iraq

Easing tensions between Washington and Tehran not stemming weapons flow

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 11, 2007 2:13 PM CST

(Newser) – US soldiers are finding more Iranian weaponry in Iraq than ever before, despite an apparent easing of tensions between Washington and Tehran, Reuters reports. Iran has vowed to stop funneling armor-piercing explosives into Iraq, and such attacks are down, but Iran is still exerting extensive influence in Iraq, a top US general says, and has 20 Revolutionary Guard “surrogates” operating there.

Since Iran’s promise, armor-piercing mortar attacks have dropped 59%, and the US has released nine Iranian prisoners. But the general said soldiers were finding more weapons with components traceable to Iran, including 46 ready and pointed at US bases. Yet he can’t be sure if more arms are actually entering Iraq, or simply if US troops have become better at finding them.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, delivers his speech during an inaugurating ceremony of a petrochemical plant at Asalouyeh on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf, Iran, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007. Ahmadinejad on Thursday warned European countries not to follow the U.S. lead in imposing unilateral sanctions against his country....
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, delivers his speech during an inaugurating ceremony of a petrochemical plant at Asalouyeh on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf, Iran, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007....   (Associated Press)
A border guard closes a gate at the Bashmakh border crossing between Iraq and Iran near Panjwin, 280 kilometers northeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Iran closed major border crossings with northeastern Iraq on Monday to protest the U.S. detention of an Iranian official the military...
A border guard closes a gate at the Bashmakh border crossing between Iraq and Iran near Panjwin, 280 kilometers northeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Iran closed major border crossings...   (Associated Press)
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards tests missiles during maneuvers in a central desert area of Iran, in this Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Mehr News Agency, Sajjad Safari, file)
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards tests missiles during maneuvers in a central desert area of Iran, in this Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Mehr News Agency, Sajjad Safari, file)   (Associated Press)
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