Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad have seized a large cache of explosively formed penetrators in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City, U.S. officials said Wednesday.

The cache included more than 160 blocks of C4 explosives, 34 complete EFP devices ready to be used, 53 copper plates used in EFPs and around a dozen 107 mm rockets. The Iraqis also found metal presses and punches, which can be used to make shaped plates for the devices.

"The weapons the [Iraqi army] discovered today were especially deadly. Thanks to the IA’s resolve, these weapons will never be used to harm innocent people," said Col. John Hort, commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Iraqi and American troops will try to use the weapons to "assist in targeting those responsible for the cache," officials said.

EFPs are a particularly deadly form of roadside bomb used to target armored vehicles. They shoot a molten disc of copper capable of penetrating even the heaviest U.S. armor.

In the past, the U.S. military has accused Iran’s Quds Force of transporting EFPs from Iran into Iraq. Iran has denied the accusations, though earlier this week a top Iranian military officials told a state-run news service that Iran arms "liberation armies" in the region.