Iran may play nuclear card - US
2006-08-13 20:42
Washington - The United States on Sunday expressed concern that Iran may seek to use its nuclear programme to attempt to force Washington's hand in Iraq.
"I believe that ... the nuclear issue might ... trigger increased Iranian pressure against the coalition," Zalmay Khalilzad, US ambassador to Iraq, told CNN television's Late Edition.
"The concern that we have is not only with regard to the activities so far, but also ... that they might escalate the pressure against the Iraqi government and against the coalition," the US envoy said.
He also renewed US charges that Iran is playing a key role in ratcheting up sectarian violence in Iraq.
"We are concerned Iran is playing a role in the sectarian violence that is taking place here," Khalilzad told CNN.
"It is providing arms, training and money and other support to groups involved in sectarian violence, including militias that have death squads associated with them," the US diplomat said.
- AFP