BAGHDAD, Nov 6: The US military said on Tuesday it will release nine Iranians detained in Iraq in recent months, including two seized in a swoop in the Kurdish city of Arbil in January accused of fomenting violence.

US military spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith told reporters that the nine will be released in the coming days as none of them posed a threat to security in Iraq.

The Americans are known to be holding at least six Iranians they accused of aiding the anti-American insurgency or helping Shiite militias involved in a vicious sectarian conflict.

“It is our intention to release nine Iranians currently held captive in the near future,” Smith said.” These individuals have no continuing value, nor do they pose a further threat to Iraqi security.” US forces detained five Iranians in January in a raid in a building in Arbil, accusing them of aiding the deadly insurgency in Iraq, although Tehran insisted they were diplomats.—AFP