Iran denies US charges on Iraq bombs

BAGHDAD: The Iranian embassy in Baghdad on Monday angrily dismissed US charges that its agents had smuggled armour-piercing bombs to Shiite militants fighting in Iraq.

"It's not true. It's not fair. Iran did not supply those weapons. It is like America's former statements against Saddam Hussein about the weapons of mass destruction," an Iranian diplomat said.

Before their 2003 invasion of Iraq, US officials famously accused the then Iraqi dictator Saddam of stockpiling chemical weapons. These claims were later disproved and American officials now admit they were mistaken.

An anonymous group of senior US officials on Sunday showed journalists what they said was proof that Iranian agents have smuggled weapons to Iraq, including 'explosively formed penetrators', a form of roadside booby-trap.

These bombs, they said, have killed 170 American and allied troops since May 2004. The defence officials refused to allow reporters to name them or record their briefing, but released pictures of alleged Iranian arms.