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Hague fury as 'Iranian arms' bound for Taliban seized | Hague fury as 'Iranian arms' bound for Taliban seized |
(40 minutes later) | |
The foreign secretary has condemned Tehran's "completely unacceptable" behaviour after British Special Forces seized a shipment of suspected Iranian arms intended for the Taliban. | The foreign secretary has condemned Tehran's "completely unacceptable" behaviour after British Special Forces seized a shipment of suspected Iranian arms intended for the Taliban. |
The 48 rockets are understood to have been intercepted in Nimruz Province, in southern Afghanistan, on 5 February. | The 48 rockets are understood to have been intercepted in Nimruz Province, in southern Afghanistan, on 5 February. |
UK officials say technical analysis showed they had come from Iran. | UK officials say technical analysis showed they had come from Iran. |
William Hague said Iran's actions were at odds with its claim to "support stability and security in Afghanistan". | William Hague said Iran's actions were at odds with its claim to "support stability and security in Afghanistan". |
The rockets are understood to have a much greater range than the weapons currently available to Taliban insurgents. | The rockets are understood to have a much greater range than the weapons currently available to Taliban insurgents. |
It is believed that both UK and Afghan troops were involved in the operation to intercept them in Nimruz, which borders Iran. | It is believed that both UK and Afghan troops were involved in the operation to intercept them in Nimruz, which borders Iran. |
'Extremely concerned' | |
Mr Hague said: "This is completely unacceptable. It is not the behaviour of a responsible neighbour. | Mr Hague said: "This is completely unacceptable. It is not the behaviour of a responsible neighbour. |
"It is at odds with Iran's claim to the international community and to its own people that it supports stability and security in Afghanistan." | "It is at odds with Iran's claim to the international community and to its own people that it supports stability and security in Afghanistan." |
The foreign secretary said technical analysis and the circumstances of the seizure left him in "no doubt" the weapons came from Iran. | |
"I am extremely concerned by the latest evidence that Iran continues to supply the Taliban with weaponry - weapons clearly intended to provide the Taliban with the capability to kill Afghan and Isaf [International Security Assistance Force] soldiers from significant range." | |
He said the British Ambassador in Tehran had raised the issue with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. | He said the British Ambassador in Tehran had raised the issue with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. |
Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "This confirms my often repeated view of the dangers that Iran poses not only through its nuclear programme, but its continuing policy of destabilising its neighbours. | |
"Supplying weapons to help the Taliban kill Isaf soldiers is a clear example of the threat they pose." | |
Mark Sedwill, Nato senior civilian representative to Afghanistan, said all of the country's neighbours had an obligation to prevent weapons falling into insurgent hands. | |
"These rockets represent a step-change in the lethal impact of weaponry infiltrating Afghanistan from Iran," he added. |