World : Iran Slates Military Cutback

NICOSIA, Cyprus —  Iran will abolish reserve military service by the end of the Persian year in March and will cut the draft from 28 months to 24 starting next month, Iran’s official media reported today.

“This decision was taken in view of the calm situation at the fronts,” the Islamic Republic News Agency quoted a senior official at military headquarters as saying. The move is the first action Iran has taken to scale down its massive mobilization program since a U.N.-sponsored cease-fire in the 8-year-old war with Iraq took effect Aug. 20. It was not known how many men would be involved in the military cutback. The Iranians now are estimated to have less than 1 million men under arms.