Iran warns pilgrims entering Iraq

TEHRAN, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Iranian officials Tuesday cautioned pilgrims against entering Iraq without authorization or through unsanctioned border crossings.

The Islamic Republic News Agency says around 3,000 Iranian pilgrims cross into Iraq each day to visit Shiite holy cities.

"Iranians who want to go to pilgrimage to the Iraqi holy cities must not cross the Mehran (in Ilam province) and Shalamcheh (in Khuzestan province) border points," an Interior Ministry statement said.

The statements come as U.S. military forces ramp up their activity along the Iran-Iraq border in an effort to control the flow of Iranian-trained Shiite militants. Using biometric scanning technology, U.S. military officials have established checkpoints along a route from southern Maysan province north to Baghdad.

Iraqi military officials also have reported increased engagements with fighters allegedly working with the elite Quds Force.

Iraqi Maj. Aziz Latief said in late October that his forces had killed two Iranians during clashes in Kut, the provincial capital of Wasit near the Iranian border.