Iraq

Bush warns Iran to stop "interfering" in Iraq

Article published on the 2008-04-11 Latest update 2008-04-11 13:42 TU

U.S. President George Bush with General Petraeus and U.S Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker
(Photo : Reuters)

President George Bush has said the United States will defend its interests in Iraq from Iranian attacks and that, along with al-Qaeda, the Islamic Republic is the greatest threat to America. Bush warned that he would not hesitate to use force if Iran attacked US targets in the war-torn country, accusing Tehran of backing Iraqi militias hostile to US forces.

Bush's White House speech came as a British spokesperson said that an air-strike on Friday killed six people in Iraq's southern city of Basra.

"The air strike was launched after positively identifying a mortar team that was engaging the Iraqi troops on the ground," said Major Tom Holloway.

Bush said that if the US and its allies fail, "al-Qaeda would claim a propaganda victory of colossal proportions and they could gain safe havens in Iraq from which to attack the United States, our friends and our allies". 

"Iran would work to fill the vacuum in Iraq. And our failure would embolden its radical leaders and fuel their ambitions to dominate the region," he said.

Bush's speech came as US General David Petraeus advised that US troop withdrawals should be delayed once the forces brought in for last year's surge return home. This would leave troops levels at around 140,000.