Gates: Iran probably knows of bombs to Iraq

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Gates: Iran probably knows of bombs to Iraq
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Nov 2, 2007 11:51:11 EDT

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Iran’s top leaders are “probably” aware that parts for armor-piercing roadside bomb are being shipped to Shiite extremists in Iraq, but added that Iranian officials have assured the Iraqi government that they will try to stop the shipments.

“It is my understanding that they have provided such assurances,” Gates told Pentagon reporters Thursday. “I don’t know whether to believe them. I’ll wait and see.”

Gates said he did not have definitive proof that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei knows of the flow of explosively formed penetrator parts. EFPs, the most sophisticated type of the roadside bombs that have caused most of the U.S. combat deaths in Iraq, have killed hundreds of U.S. troops, according to officials, although specific figures are classified. Iran has denied the charges.

“I believe that, certainly, the leadership of the Quds Force is aware of this,” Gates said. “Whether Khamenei is aware, I think you’d have to say probably. But I haven’t seen anything that is definitive along those lines. My guess is that the highest levels are aware.”

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said he also had no hard proof that the Iranian leadership is aware of the shipments, “although I don’t know how they couldn’t be.”

Gates and other senior U.S. defense and intelligence officials have previously said that parts for the weapons come from Iran and, specifically, its Quds Force, and have also suggested possible high-level Iranian knowledge.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/military_gates_iran_071102w/