TEHRAN, March 14: Iran on Sunday said it would control its border with Iraq and not allowing "trespassing" but once again stressed that the security issue in Iraq is the duty of the "occupying forces, especially the US."

"We in turn will control our border and will not allow trespassing, but maintaining security in Iraq is the US' duty as the main occupying force there," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said in his weekly press conference.

"Our forces are dutifully doing their job, so the US and other occupying forces should fulfil their duty on the other side to control the border, therefore if there is a problem it is the responsibility of the occupying forces, especially the US," he added. He pointed to the arrival in Iran of Iraq's Governing Council head, Mohammed Bahr al-Uloom. -AFP