Gulf States Prepared to Back U.S. Military Strike on Iran

America Warns Iran to Back Down - January 23, 2007 - The New York Sun
January 23, 2007 edition

America Warns Iran to Back Down
By JIM KRANE
Associated Press
January 23, 2007 posted 1:26 pm EST


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - A second American aircraft carrier strike group now steaming toward the Middle East is Washington's way of warning Iran to back down in its attempts to dominate the region, a top American diplomat said here Tuesday.

Nicholas Burns, undersecretary of state for political affairs, ruled out direct negotiations with Iran and said a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran was "not possible" until Iran halts uranium enrichment.

"The Middle East isn't a region to be dominated by Iran. The Gulf isn't a body of water to be controlled by Iran. That's why we've seen the United States station two carrier battle groups in the region," Mr. Burns said in an address to the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, an influential think-tank.

" Iran is going to have to understand that the United States will protect its interests if Iran seeks to confront us," Mr. Burns continued.

Iran is in a standoff with the West over its defiance of U.N. demands to halt uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for both nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. Iran says its atomic program is aimed solely at generating energy, but America and some of its allies suspect it is geared toward making weapons. The U.N. imposed limited sanctions on Iran last month.
Bong30 Reviewed by Bong30 on . Report: Gulf States Prepared to Back U.S. Military Strike on Iran Gulf States Prepared to Back U.S. Military Strike on Iran America Warns Iran to Back Down - January 23, 2007 - The New York Sun January 23, 2007 edition America Warns Iran to Back Down By JIM KRANE Associated Press January 23, 2007 posted 1:26 pm EST Rating: 5