Iran Pledges to Help Keep Arms Out of Iraq

Small dip in militant attacks could reflect successful deal
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 30, 2007 6:37 PM CDT
Iran Pledges to Help Keep Arms Out of Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki looks back as he sits in his seat during the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Ed Betz)   (Associated Press)

Iraqi officials claim they've secured a pledge from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to curb the flow of weapons and insurgent support across the Iraq-Iran border. Although Iran has not confirmed this pledge, Gen. David Petraeus said that attacks may have fallen slightly since the agreement last month. Petraeus said it's still "wait-and-see time," reports the Los Angeles Times.

Aides to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki say the agreement  included a promise to increase the number of Iranian forces on the border. Petraeus said the US and Iraq might be willing to "reciprocate" if Iraq did in fact contribute to a reduction in militant violence. He cautioned that the drop in attacks is not "statistically significant," and could also be attributed to Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr putting a temporary hold on his militia's activities. (More Iran stories.)

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