British Capture Weapons on the Iran Border.

Interesting, indeed.

Britain yesterday described as "unacceptable" the smuggling of weapons from Iran into Iraq after revealing that a consignment was intercepted at the border between the two countries.

While complaints have been made in the past, it is relatively rare to have concrete evidence of such smuggling.

Further mention here:

Iran has repeatedly denied any involvement in the insurgency or party politics in Iraq.

A senior British official disclosed yesterday details of the incident two weeks ago when a group crossing from Iran was intercepted near Maysan, which is in the British controlled sector of Iraq. Iraqi security forces opened fire and the smugglers fled back to Iran leaving their cache of timers, detonators and other bomb-making equipment.

The British official said he did not know the identity of the group or those behind it but said it had the "fingerprints" of either Iran's Revolutionary Guard, controlled by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, or the Lebanese based Hizbullah which Tehran backs. The incident came against a backdrop of tension between Iran and the west over allegations that Tehran is intent on securing a nuclear-weapons capability.

Britain warns Tehran about weapons smuggling

In December 2004, the US warned both Syria and Iran of interfering in Iraq.
Bush Warns Syria, Iran Against Meddling in Iraq

Further interesting is that Syria's Assad, while visiting in Tehran this week, mentioned:

Syrian President Bashar Assad emphasized terrorism in his comments after arriving in Tehran for a two-day visit. "Iran and Syria should pay attention to terrorism, which is spreading in the Middle East," Assad said.

New Iran Leader Meets Syrian President


Lets see here: we know that Syria is allowing foreign fighters to enter unimpeded into Iraq; we know that Iran is sending aid and munitions to the insurgents, all the while professing that they are against terrorism and only seek the stabilization of Iraq within the region. Hmmm, yeah....gotcha'. Definately keep up the good work....not.







seekerof

[edit on 11-8-2005 by Seekerof]

There is much more going on this issue than meets the eye (IMHO). Although there has been no relative build-up of rhetoric; rather this go-round tangible and creditable specifics are used as examples and expected denials.

As I mentioned in another thread, Teheran’s actions, inactions and continued actions in these areas will further bury her in full view if the international community. Bush can lay in ‘waiting’; Teheran is clumsily playing with a two edged sword. Albeit; all the while Teheran is gambling heavily on China’s continued relationship and her veto should she be referred to the international community for sanctions.

It is Syria which will need the support of Iran and her relationships in the event such sanctions are vetoed and individual national interests become the rule of the land. I would not be surprised if the world sees more of Iran’s flaunting an overt relationship with China, further supportive rhetoric from North Korea about Teheran’s autonomy and an a re-opening of energy trade to Zimbabwe. Oh, and an ample supply of anti-US propaganda to spread around.

However the issues you discuss are surely being addressed (and probably much more):

Bush, advisers working out how to handle Iran

Today, president will address arms moved into Iraq, nuclear ambitions

WASHINGTON - As President Bush takes stock of his foreign policy today, the long-troubled relationship between the United States and Iran appears to be worsening because of Tehran's nuclear technology aspirations and the smuggling of weapons across the Iranian border to Iraqi insurgents.
Bush will meet with his foreign policy advisers at his Crawford ranch to discuss a variety of issues…..
Aug 10, 2005, Article Link

.

Seekerof, you may find this of interest.

We're heading out to the border between Iraq and Iran, to check out the new Iraqi Border Enforcement Force. The British land operations in the south have been touted as something of a success, with few attacks here compared to around Baghdad. According to the British, progress is being made in handing over security to the Iraqis.
This is just one of 50 border posts set up by the British that is now being run by the Iraqis themselves, a success, but not without its frustrations.

SERGEANT PETER WHITE: The training side of things is done to be honest, we had some problems when we initially got here. We expected too much of them, we expected them to be of the standard of the British soldier, and to be quite honest, that's not going to happen, ever.
But for Iraqi forces they consider themselves to be a border denial force, they were not proactive. Obviously doesn't take the brains of archbishop to work out that if people across the river can see the border police here, they are not going to cross the river.
We've introduced them to mobile patrolling, we've had limited success, some success. It all depends on how much sleep they've had during the day, as we'll see later on.

We're taken to meet Abdullah, who oversees the fort. This fort has been set up to stop smuggling between Iraq and Iran, but strangely Abdullah tells us he hasn't seen any smugglers. When we ask Sergeant White about this later, he tells us that Abdullah is a known supporter of Moqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sadr is a radical Shi'ite cleric who's calling for an immediate withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq.

SBS

Full Story.
Click, Feature:Can Iraq Protect its Oils?

Sanc'.

An Iraqi official called the reports 'exagerated'.

Guardian

Interior Minister Bayan Jabr told reporters that Iraqi security forces recently opened fire on a group of men carrying boxes near the Iranian border. The men dropped the boxes and fled back into Iranian territory. Inside the boxes were dynamite sticks with some wires.

"This is all that happened at the border and was very much exaggerated," Jabr said.

I'm not sure how that had Revolutionary Guard 'fingerprints' all over it.


[edit on 12-8-2005 by AceOfBase]

Originally posted by AceOfBase
I'm not sure how that had Revolutionary Guard 'fingerprints' all over it.

A senior British official disclosed yesterday details of the incident two weeks ago when a group crossing from Iran was intercepted near Maysan, which is in the British controlled sector of Iraq. Iraqi security forces opened fire and the smugglers fled back to Iran leaving their cache of timers, detonators and other bomb-making equipment…
…Bayan Jabr, Iraq's interior minister, also played down the incident, saying it "was very much exaggerated".

I guess the “Guardian” updated their article(unless the above link is incorrect); however it still pales to the smuggling and trafficking via Syria’s border with Iraq.



.

Originally posted by cjf

I guess the “Guardian” updated their article(unless the above link is incorrect); however it still pales to the smuggling and trafficking via Syria’s border with Iraq.
.

Sorry, I reposted Seekerof's link by mistake but even that one quoted the Iraqi official as saying it was exaggerated.

Here's the site I got the more complete quote from:
San Jose Mercury News

[edit on 13-8-2005 by AceOfBase]

its a nice story, as i said i await the Galloway smuggling arms from Bethnal green to the Mujahdin story as well, im sure itll be a cracker.