Iran Arming Taliban, Blair Says

British premier Tony Blair in an article appearing in The Economist accused Iran of arming Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in order to stir chaos and inflict more casualties on Western troops.

The Prime Minister's allegation follows the disclosure in The Daily Telegraph that British intelligence believes that Iran has given the Taliban surface-to-air missiles.

Blair believes that Iran and the Taliban share an interest in killing Western troops inside Afghanistan and are co-operating accordingly.

"In Afghanistan, it is clear that the Taliban is receiving support, including arms from elements of the Iranian regime," Blair wrote.

"They believe if they inflict enough chaos, enough casualties of Western soldiers, we will lose the will."