Facing US Pressure, Iraq Will Search Iranian Planes
Foreign Minister Promises 'Random Inspections'
US officials never did publicly produce any evidence to support their allegations that Iran is using civilian passenger planes to send weapons to Syria, but faced with growing pressure the Iraqi government has announced that they will search Iranian planes in their airspace.
The US first began claiming the planes had weapons on them a month ago, but spurned calls for evidence, and Sen. Kerry (D – MA) later threatened to see Iraq’s aid cut if they didn’t follow through on the allegations, though the White House disavowed these comments.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says that they have informed the US State Department of their intention to conduct “random inspections” of Iranian civilian planes flying through their airspace.
The US has not commented on the report or whether it has successfully placated them. Though Iran does have a relationship with the Syrian military they have denied the allegation of using civilian planes for shipments, and with Syria relying mostly on Russia for weaponry it isn’t clear why they would do so in the first place.
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Farang
October 1st, 2012 at 3:13 am
"Random inspections" is rather vague… It sounds like "We'll inspect one plane a month, after having told the Iranians when and where the inspection will take place."
peter vojta
October 1st, 2012 at 8:03 am
Who will inspect weapons smagling roads – borders for weapons to "so called rebels"? Usual double standart and I believe Iran will found the way how to help his ally. They do have dafence agreement….peter czech
Reza_from_Iran
October 1st, 2012 at 4:35 pm
It's one of those American shots: on shot two target.
they know support of Iran is not in civilian planes
so first of all put pressure on Iran and secondly separate two neighbor countries by disrupting their relationship.