BAGHDAD — After more than a month, Iran has ended a border standoff
with Iraq.
Officials said Iran has withdrawn its military forces from all Iraqi
territory. They said the pullout from the disputed Fakaa oil field in
eastern Iraq took place on Jan. 27.
"The Iranians returned to their original posts," Iraqi government
spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said.
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The Iranian pullout ended a six-week standoff that did not threaten to
flare into violence. Officials said the Baghdad government maintained
diplomatic contact with Teheran to defuse the situation and ensure an
Iranian withdrawal.
Officials said the Iranian force at Fakaa never exceeded more than 30
soldiers, who at the start of the incursion raised their national flag. They
said the force evacuated all four wells at Fakaa and filled up the trenches
dug during the standoff. An Iranian bulldozer also removed a sand barrier
near one of the wells.
Baghdad and Teheran have failed to demarcate their disputed border along
Iraq's eastern Maysan province. Fakaa was drilled by Iraq during the 1970s
but development was halted by the Iran-Iraq war in 1980.
Officials said Iran and Iraq were discussing a plan to demarcate their
border. They said an agreement could be reached in 2010.