Iraq detains Iranian infiltrators ahead of polls

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Dec. 05 – Iran’s state-run television reported on Monday that 23 Iranians are currently being held in detention in the eastern Iraqi governorate of al-Wassit. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Dec. 05 – Iran’s state-run television reported on Monday that 23 Iranians are currently being held in detention in the eastern Iraqi governorate of al-Wassit.

The report quoted an official from the Iranian embassy in Iraq as saying that 16 of the arrested individuals were expected to be released in two months after finishing their jail sentence in a prison in the city of al-Kut, while the other seven individuals remained in temporary detention until their prosecution.

They were all arrested for illegal entry into Iraq from the Iranian border.

Iraqi, American and British officials in Iraq have accused Tehran of backing insurgent groups and dispatching undercover military or intelligence agents to Iraq, often in the guise of pilgrims.

Al-Wassit has been a favourite crossing point for Iranians entering Iraq illegally.