Iran criticizes Iraq's search of Syria-bound plane

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) ? Iran has criticized neighboring Iraq for forcing a Syria-bound Iranian cargo plane to land for inspection in Baghdad to ensure it was not carrying weapons.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iraq should not be influenced by anti-Iranian Western countries, adding that the search of two Iranian planes over the past month had proved that no weapons were aboard Syria-bound Iranian flights.

Mehmanparast said the U.S. and its allies seek to divert global attention away from their own shipment of arms to Syrian rebels. He made the remarks during a press conference in Tehran Tuesday.

The Iraqi move appeared aimed at easing U.S. concerns that Iraq has become a route for shipments of Iranian military supplies that could help the regime of President Bashar Assad in its fight against rebels.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-10-30-Iran-Iraq-Syria/id-34c481ab70a345cdb2a01c1188646e88

4/20 student loan forgiveness ufc 145 weigh ins record store day 2012 detroit red wings jose canseco zimmerman