Powell uses Iraq visit to sound Iran warning
31 July 2004 06:50
Colin Powell, the United States Secretary of State, made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday and admitted that Washington is becoming increasingly concerned about Iran's attempts to gain influence in the south of the country.
His warning came with pressure mounting on Tehran because of evidence that the regime has flouted pledges to the International Atomic Energy Agency and has re-embarked on a programme to develop nuclear weapons.
Powell's intervention appeared to have been prompted by repeated warnings from Western diplomats that weapons and money have been crossing the border with Iran. Several Shia political parties in southern Iraq are known to maintain links in Iran.
"Iran has the potential of playing a helpful role, but we are uneasy about some of the actions that it [Iran] has been taking in the south," said Powell, who is the first senior US administration official to visit Iraq since the handover of power in June.
"We hope that the Iranian authorities will realise that it is in their interest to have a stable Iraq as a neighbour."
His comments came only days after the Iraqi defence minister told a US newspaper that Iran is his country's "first enemy", accusing Tehran of "blatant interference". (snipped)
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