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(TEHRAN, April 8—Reuters) Iran, responding to news reports that it secretly sent arms to Bosnian Muslims, said on Monday it had supplied humanitarian aid to Bosnia through legal channels. The Iranian ambassador to Sarajevo, Mohammad Ebrahim Taherian, quoted by the official Iranian news agency IRNA, said: "Iran's humanitarian assistance to Bosnia was carried out through legal and official channels." He did not say what kind of support Iran gave Bosnia.

No Need for U.S. Approval
"He stressed that the assistance was offered through various channels especially Islamic countries and the Organization of (the) Islamic Conference (OIC) and there had been no need for U.S. approval," IRNA said.

Last Friday's Los Angeles Times alleged that U.S. President Bill Clinton gave a green light to secret arms shipments from Iran to Bosnia's embattled Muslim-led government. "Based on our Islamic beliefs and our nation's deep sympathy with the Bosnian Muslims, we considered ourselves bound to support and offer assistance," Taherian told IRNA.

In Washington, the U.S. State Department did not deny the report, but said that despite its opposition to the U.N. arms embargo—which helped lock in a weapons advantage for Serbs over the Muslims—the administration complied with it.

Eight OIC states, including Iran, last July declared the U.N. arms embargo against the former Yugoslavia invalid for Bosnia. Last August, Tehran and Sarajevo said they discussed the possibility of Iranian military aid. They gave no details and Iranian officials have denied any arms have been sent. Iran's assistance at a critical time when the Muslims had few other allies has helped establish a foothold for Tehran in Bosnia.

Widespread reports of Iranian fighters in Bosnia, denied by Tehran, have caused tensions between Washington and Sarajevo.


Apr 6 · Paper says Clinton Gave Nod to Covert Arms


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