Iranian weapons in Iraq suspected in 2005

WASHINGTON, March 27 (UPI) -- While U.S. President George Bush first accused Iran of supplying Iraqi insurgents with weaponry recently, there were diplomatic exchanges on it 20 months ago.

The Washington accusations began publicly four months ago but The New York Times discovered a diplomatic protest sent to Tehran through Swiss intermediaries from July 19, 2005.

The letter spoke of a roadside bomb device that had killed a British soldier and said the insurgents responsible had links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, the Times said.

While Iran has consistently denied any involvement in its neighbor's conflict, some U.S. anti-war Democrats told the Times they've been persuaded by the intelligence pointing to an Iranian role in supplying the deadly, armor-piercing devices.

Among them is U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who opposed sending more troops to Iraq. He also said the roadside bombs issue was a diversionary smokescreen by the Bush administration. However, he said after trips to Iraq and talks with military commanders he is now persuaded the weapons are coming from Iran, the report said.