Iran 'guarantees' to halt flow of bomb materials to Iraq

The Iranian government has pledged to halt the flow of bomb-making materials to Iraq, according to a top US general in Iraq.

In a 2 November interview in Baghdad, US Army Major General James Simmons, the deputy commanding general of Multinational Corps - Iraq, said the Iranian government had made 'guarantees' to stop the introduction of materials for building explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) - a particularly deadly type of off-route mine.

"I'm hopeful," he said. "What I see is a diplomatic effort being undertaken by the United States government - and I see a positive response from the Iranian government and that's good."

In recent months, US and UK officials have accused the Iranian government of high-level complicity in arming Shia militia groups in Iraq. In particular, officials have charged the leadership of the Qods Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps with furnishing EFP bomb-making materials and expertise.

EFPs - which often employ sophisticated triggering mechanisms - are seen as one of the most deadly threats faced by US and coalition forces in Iraq. Gen Simmons said US forces had recent evidence of Iranian involvement in furnishing EFPs.

Image: A US explosive ordnance disposal team empties a weapons cache that was discovered at Saada village, Iraq, on 23 October 2007. (USAF) 188 of 647 words