Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Iran and Iraq have signed their first weapons deal since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Western diplomatic sources said Iran would supply a range of mortars and artillery for Iraq’s security forces. They said the deal would violate the United Nations embargo on Iranian weapons sales.

“Nothing prevents us from buying arms and ammunition from any party,” Iraqi government spokesman Ali Musawi said.

On Feb. 4, Iraq’s ambassador to Iran, Mohammed Al Sheik, said Baghdad planned to purchase weapons from Iran. In an interview with Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Al Sheik, who earlier reported a memorandum of understanding, did not detail the procurement.

“Some well-informed sources said that the Iranian-Iraqi talks came in light of the Iraqi Defense Ministry’s vision of the need to supply the Iraqi Army with Iranian-made military equipment, given their efficiency and importance,” Al Sheik said.

The London-based Reuters news agency said the Iranian-Iraqi weapons deal
was signed at the end of November 2013, a week after Iraqi Prime Minister
Nouri Al Maliki returned from the United States. Reuters said the Iranian
sale, reported to the Security Council, would amount to $195 million.

“If true, this would raise serious concerns,” a U.S. official said. “Any
transfer of arms from Iran to a third country is in direct violation of
Iran’s obligations under UNSCR 1747.”

Iraqi parliamentarians said negotiations between Baghdad and Teheran
took place throughout 2013. They said Al Maliki turned to Teheran after the
United States delayed an Iraqi arms request.

Reuters disclosed eight Iranian contracts to supply arms to Iraq. They
were said to have included mortars and launchers, main battle tank shells,
artillery as well as light weapons. No delivery dates were reported.

“A final two contracts were agreed to with the state-owned Iran
Electronic Industries for night vision goggles, communications equipment and
mortar guiding devices,” Reuters said.

  Mohammed Al Sheik, Nouri Al Maliki, UN Security Council, Western sources: Iran-Iraq have signed arms deal that violates UN embargo