<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile Ñ U.S. seeks to defuse Iran-Iraq showdown after seizure of oil well

U.S. seeks to defuse Iran-Iraq showdown after seizure of oil well

Monday, December 21, 2009   E-Mail this story   Free Headline Alerts

BAGHDAD Ñ Iran and Iraq have been embroiled in their first military standoff in more than 20 years.

The Iraq Army, with U.S. support, deployed hundreds of troops along the border with Iran during a confrontation over a crude oil field.

Officials said 11 Iranian soldiers seized a well at Al Fakah field on Dec. 18 about 320 kilometers southeast of Baghdad. Iran, claiming the well was within its territory, has acknowledged the capture.

The United States has sought to defuse what could be the first battle between Iran and Iraq since the end of the 1980-1988 war. U.S. commanders said Iranian troops left the No. 4 well on Dec. 19.

"I continue to worry about the influence of Iran," Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.

Al Dabbagh said the Iranian seizure pointed to the need for a defined border with Iraq based on a 1975 agreement. He said Baghdad and Teheran have been discussing the Iranian incursion in Maysan.

"This is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty," Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said.

On Dec. 18, Iraq's National Security Council discussed the Iranian incursion. The council demanded that Iran remove its flag and soldiers from the well. Hours later Iraqi troops were sent to the area.

"Iraq demands immediate withdrawal from well No. 4 and the Fakah oil field, which belongs to Iraq," Al Dabbagh said. "Iraq is looking for a peaceful and diplomatic settlement to this issue."

On Dec. 19, Iraqi soldiers and security forces were amassing about a kilometer from oil well No. 4. Officials said a small Iranian force was still around the well, located in the southern Iraqi province of Maysan.

Later, the Iraqi military reported that it recaptured the well. The military did not report any confrontation with the Iranians.

"An Iranian force entered this well and stayed for a few hours," Iraq Army Gen. Habib Husseini said. "It was a provocative operation by the Iranian forces."

Iraq's parliament has urged the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki to ensure the Iranian withdrawal from Al Fakah. The deputies, however, urged Al Maliki to resolve the stand-off through diplomacy.

"Everyone knows that Iraq has a lot of outstanding issues with Iran," Iraqi parliamentary speaker Iyad Al Samarai said. "These issues are not resolved by force, rather through dialogue and understanding."

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