Baghdad Rejects US Claims about Iran’s Arms Supply to Syria via Iraq

Senior Iraqi officials strongly rejected the US allegations that Iran is sending arms cargos to Syria through Iraq’s airspace, saying that Americans make baseless allegations without presenting substantiating evidence to corroborate their claims.

Iraqi Prime Minister’s Spokesman Ali al-Moussavi demanded Washington officials to present evidence to back up their accusations after the US officials in a theatrical move expressed anger today over reports that Iraq is allowing Iran to use its airspace to supply the Syrian government with military equipment and weapons.

Moussavi said that the US has to prove its claims that Iran is sending arms to support the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Moussavi said Iranian officials promised his boss, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, that the flights are simply transporting aid and food. Flying weapons through Iraqi air space would violate a United Nations Security Council Resolution and Iraq had warned Iran, he said.

“The Iraqi government is carefully monitoring this issue both in the sky and ground,” Moussavi told the Associated Press. “Until now, there is no evidence of any violation in this regard, and if anyone has any evidence, they should bring it to us and we will take the needed measures.”

Vice President Joe Biden was supposed to provide the proof about a month ago but it was never received, al-Moussavi said sarcastically.