(AP/Washington Post) The arrest of two Iranians suspected of attempting to carry out a car bombing in an eastern Baghdad neighborhood on Monday focused new attention on how Tehran is involved in Iraq. Tehran insists it has no interest in fomenting instability in its neighbor and there was no indication that the two were Iranian government agents. They might instead be working on their own. Many observers say a smooth path to upcoming Iraqi elections could benefit mostly Shiite Iran, since a vote will likely bring an Iraqi government dominated by Shiites. Iran is believed to be quietly funding Shiite political parties in a bid to influence the government that emerges from January's elections, one Western diplomat said.
2004-07-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive