Spokesman: No Iranian Arms Will Transit Iraq For Syria

Iraq has told Iran it will not allow arms shipments to Syria to pass through or over its territory.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on March 17 that Baghdad had informed Tehran that it would not permit the use of its air space or territory for the transit of any arms cargo to Syria.

The statement comes one day after the United States expressed concern that Syria-bound Iranian cargo flights over Iraq might contain arms that could be used by Damascus to crush protests.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on March 16 that Iraq would not allow the transit of weapons from any source to pass through its borders, and said Iranian shipments traveling to Syria via Iraq were "only carrying humanitarian goods."


With AFP and AP reporting