Iran Says It Will Arrest and Prosecute Any Members of Iraq's Leadership Trying to Flee to Its Territory

Iran has stated that it will arrest and prosecute any members of the former Iraqi leadership who attempt to flee to its territory. Hamid Reza Asifi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said today in Tehran that any former Iraqi government leader entering Iran will be tried for the crimes committed by that government against the Iranian people. He mentioned that Iranian border guards are closely monitoring the western border with Iraq. The spokesperson did not clarify whether the Tehran government would consider handing over any detained officials of the former Iraqi regime to American or British forces. The United States has published a list of 55 members of the ousted Iraqi leadership as the main individuals wanted. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed the fall of Saddam Hussein but simultaneously opposed the U.S.-led military operations in Iraq due to concerns about America's powerful presence in the region. Saddam Hussein is despised by the Iranian people for using chemical weapons against Iranian forces during the devastating eight-year war between the two countries.