Bush fires warning to 'nuclear' Iran
Bush was making his second major speech on foreign policy in a week
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Tuesday, 28, Aug 2007 09:48
President George Bush has delivered his clearest warning yet that Iran faces a showdown with the United States over its policy in war-torn Iraq.
In a speech to the American Legion of US war veterans in Reno, Nevada, Mr Bush reiterated his belief that Iranian forces were aiding and abetting terrorist insurgents in the neighbouring Middle Eastern nation.
Although Mr Bush has stated on a number of occasions that the situation is under control in Iraq, he has been forced to concede in recent months that there are certain aspects of the campaign that have not been going according to plan.
And he voiced his concerns that Iran were playing a part in the ongoing insurgency attacking coalition troops throughout Iraq, saying he has "authorised our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran's murderous activities".
"The Iranian regime must halt these actions," he said.
He also warned that Tehran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities threatened a "shadow of a nuclear holocaust" in the Middle East and vowed to "confront the danger of Iran before it is too late".
Earlier, Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed the problems in Iraq would soon result in a "political power vacuum", referring to speculation that both Britain and the United States would be considering scaling down their military presence.
He also hinted that Iran had reached full proficiency in the nuclear fuel cycle, claiming: "Iran is a nuclear Iran."
Mr Ahmadinejad continued: "The political power of the occupiers is collapsing rapidly.
And added: "Of course, we are prepared to fill the gap, with the help of neighbours and regional friends like Saudi Arabia, and with the help of the Iraqi nation."