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Iran puts back blame on US for border security lapses in Iraq

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 14, IRNA -- Iran turned the tables on the United States 
on Sunday, saying the US-led occupation forces` failure to properly 
police Iraq`s borders was to blame for security lapses in the war-torn
country. 
The statements, made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza 
Asefi, came a day after US officials accused Tehran of doing not 
enough to prevent insurgents from allegedly crossing into Iraq from 
Iran. 
"The statements made by certain American authorities, specifically
by a US commander, are intended to pin the blame on others. 
"Americans, wherever they have gone, they have not only failed to 
boost security, but they have also exacerbated the problems and it is 
the case now in Iraq," Asefi told reporters at a weekly news briefing.
The official said there was nothing wrong on the Iranian side and 
the country`s border guards had the common frontiers under full 
control. 
"America, as one of the occupying forces, is responsible for 
guaranteeing security; as for our part, we are controlling our borders
and do not let any illegal travels," Asefi said. 
"If there is any problem and the security is not upheld, I think 
the occupying forces, specially America, will be taken into task since
they have not been able to ensure security in Iraq," he added. 
Asefi said Iranian officials had discussed the issue of border 
security as well as issues related to oil, health, trade and pilgrims 
with the Iraqi Governing Council chairman, Mohammad Bahr-ul-Uloum, who
currently visiting Tehran. 
The official is being accompanied by senior Governing Council 
member Ahmad Chalabi as well as directors of the Iraqi interim 
ministries. 
Iran has about 1,500 kilometers of common borders with Iraq, which
Tehran announced as closed following deadly bombings in Baghdad and 
Karbala early this month, in which more than 180 people were killed. 
Senior Iraqi clerics, including Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, 
blamed the occupying forces, headed by the US, for security lapses. 
The US-led authority in Iraq announced on Saturday that it was 
mulling a new border policy, including closure of all 20 entry points 
from Iran except for three. 
BH/AH/210 
End