Anglo-American Axis Powers Charge Iran in Iraq Bombing Campaign

PEJ News - C. L. Cook - Rolling the contentious issue of Iranian nuclear development into the mix, British P.M., Tony Blair has accused Tehran of involvement in the recently escalated rate of bombings throughout the south of Iraq. The Iranians deny their participation, instead claiming Blair and his American partner are simply practicing "psychological warfare" against them.

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Anglo-American Axis Powers
Charge Iran in Iraq Bombing Campaign
C.L. Cook

PEJ News
October 16, 2005

At the crux of Blair's charge is, what he claims, a heightened level of sophistication in the bombings and, he says, evidence that the materiel used could only be coming from the Iranian military. Charges again denied in Tehran. One thing is certain though; attacks have been on the increase, and have been increasingly deadly.

But the bombings are not limited to Iraq.

Just yesterday, two bomb attacks in the Iranian city Ahvez killed four and injured more than 80 bystanders. The bombs, described as "homemade" and placed in garbage cans, were detonated a few minutes apart, and while Britain condemned the attack, they provided no clue as to why the Iranians would be blowing up their own people.

Iranian state media has openly blamed yesterday's blasts on Britain.

There is a strong suspicion in Iran, and throughout the Middle-East, British and American "black-ops," covert agents provocateurs have been, and continue to be, responsible for many of the puzzling terrorist attacks against primarily civilian and religious targets.

In a statement, Britain acknowledged and rejected Iranian suspicions, saying:

"There has been speculation in the past about alleged British involvement in Khuzestan... We reject these allegations. Any linkage between the British Government and these terrorist outrages is certainly without foundation."

Last month, two British SAS agents were captured in Iraq by "police." When their car was stopped, the two men opened fire, killing one officer. Their vehicle was later found to be full of weapons and bomb-making materiel. British forces later mounted a raid on the jail where the men where being held, freeing them and killing at least five Iraqis in the process.

For their part, the Iranian government, when asked about possible British involvement in the string of bombings in Iran's Khuzestan province said, through spokesperson, Hamid Reza:

"Unlike the British we are not going to express our views without the necessary investigations," adding: "The (U.N. Security) Council cannot be used as a Sword of Damocles against Iran, we cannot be threatened by referral."

Khuzestan province is the heart of Iran's oil industry.

Chris Cook is a contributing editor to PEJ News. He also hosts the weekly public affairs program, Gorilla Radio. You can check out the GR Blog here.

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