Made in Iran

The US announced today that a shipment of Iranian-made arms (mortars and plastic explosives) were seized near Kandahar. It is unknown (or unstated) whether the shipment was officially authorized. A Guardian story notes that a senior Afghan general also claims his forces seized Iranian-made weapons. He says they were captured from insurgents last month in Farah province, and were channeled through drug smugglers in Iranian Baluchistan.

One note regarding the timing; the U.S. waited a year after its discover of Iranian weapons in Iraq and announcing them (see photo); this time it waited less than a month (the exact period was undisclosed). These announcements are typically timed strategically--but what's the strategy here? The language has been cautiously calibrated thus far, but the confrontation could reach an elevated pitch as each side toes the red line.

Some relevant quotes: MORE...

"We know that there are munitions that were made in Iran that are in Iraq and in Afghanistan. And we know that the Quds Force works for the I.R.G.C...We then surmise from that one or two things: Either the leadership of the country knows what their armed forces are doing, or that they don't know. And in either case that's a problem."
                        - General Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

"We don't know exactly who is doing this and why but we know that these are Iranian-origin weapons that have shown up in the hands of the Taliban….I don't want to overstate it.”

                        - Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, April 18

"Iran's involvement in Afghanistan at times has been positive but has had some negative aspects in its attempts to play politics in Afghanistan more and more frequently."

             - Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, April 6

"The overall Iranian role has been to work closely with us to bring Karzai into power…However, the Iranians believe the No. 1 threat is an American attack to overthrow their government. They may do anything it takes to make the United States and its allies uncomfortable there."

                                        - Barnett Rubin, NYU

“I don’t believe you can develop Afghanistan without a major role by Iran.”

                                    - Anatol Lieven, Senior Fellow, New America Foundation

"All they are interested in is money."

                                    - Brigadier General Mohiyadeen Ghori. Ghori, who commands the 205th Corps in Helmand, said his troops had also recovered Iranian-manufactured weapons from insurgents in Farah province, and that Iran was funding insurgents in Garmser district. The general added that funds for the arms were being channeled through drug smugglers based in Iranian Baluchistan.