Khaberni - 14 Iranian soldiers were killed during the dismantling of unexploded ordnance in the province of Zanjan, northwest of the country, according to local media, Friday.
Fars Agency quoted the Revolutionary Guards saying, "Following enemy air raids using cluster bombs and air mines, parts of Zanjan province, including about 1200 hectares of agricultural land, were contaminated with bombs."
It added that experts from the Revolutionary Guards were working on cleaning these areas and were able to neutralize more than 15,000 pieces of ammunition.
It noted, "During one of these missions today, 14 members of these forces died, and two were injured."
Iran had previously accused the United States and Israel of using cluster munitions, which are bombs that explode in the air and release small submunitions, some of which may not explode, posing a danger that can last for decades.
In contrast, Israel accused Iran of using this type of munition in its missile strikes on Israeli cities.
Iran, Israel, and the United States have not joined more than 100 countries that signed a 2008 convention banning the use, transfer, production, and storage of cluster munitions.
