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US: No tension with Iran
28/03/2007 20:38 - (SA)
Washington - The White House denied on Wednesday stepping up tension with Iran with increased military exercises in the Gulf region, but stressed US support for Britain as Iran holds 15 of its sailors.
Spokesperson Dana Perino said: "These military exercises were long-planned and so there is no escalation of tension on our part.
"Now, we do stand with our British allies and stand behind Tony Blair as he works to get these 15 soldiers back from the Iranians."
On Tuesday, the Pentagon said the unusual exercise involving two US aircraft carrier strike groups in the Gulf is aimed at reassuring friends and allies, not raising tensions with Iran.
"We are not interested in confrontation in the Gulf," said Pentagon spokesperson Bryan Whitman.
Exercises involving two carrier strike groups are unusual because two such naval formations are rarely in the same area at the same time.
- SAPA
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