Iran fist-in-glove with Iraqi rebels: America builds its case

US military spokesmen, officials and analysts are gradually adding flesh to the bones of allegations of official Iranian collaboration with Shia and Sunni insurgents in Iraq, including elements linked to al-Qaida.

The development comes amid reports that the White House is leaning towards military action against Iran over its suspect nuclear activities and supposed meddling in Iraq, and growing expectations that George Bush will extend the military "surge" to at least next summer.

A senior US official in Baghdad told the Guardian in May that Iran was fighting a proxy war in Iraq. He accused Tehran of "committing daily acts of war against US and British forces", including weapons and other assistance to militias and ad hoc cooperation with individual extremists tied to al-Qaida.

The allegations were rejected out of hand by Iran. Anti-war groups dismissed them as unsubstantiated US propaganda, reminiscent of false claims made prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In an apparent response to this scepticism Brigadier-General Kevin Bergner, of Multi-National Force Iraq, put coalition concerns on the record at an official briefing in Baghdad on July 2. Guardian
Remember the Iran-Iraq war? Trust me, the Iranians do! And they are not likely to forgive and forget. Indeed the probably enjoying the fact that Iraq was double-crossed and then invaded by their erstwhile allies!