Security beefed up, says Rice
2008-07-10 11:45
Tbilisi - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned Iran that Washington had beefed up its "security presence" in the Gulf and would not hesitate to defend Israel and other allies in the region.
"We will defend American interests and the interests of our allies," Rice told reporters in Tbilisi in response to a threat made by an aide to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to "set fire" to Israel.
"We take very strongly our obligation to defend our allies and we intend to do that," Rice said.
"In the Gulf area, the United States has enhanced its security capacity, its security presence and we are working closely with all our allies... to make (sure) they are capable of defending themselves.
"These are all elements of America's intention and determination to prevent Iran from threatening our interest or the interests of our friends and allies.
"I don't think the Iranians are too confused either about the capabilities and power of the United States to do exactly that," Rice said at the close of a brief visit to ex-Soviet Georgia.
On Tuesday an aide to Khamenei, Ali Shirazi, said Iran would "set on fire" Israel and the US navy in the Gulf as its first response to any American attack over its nuclear programme.
Rice on Thursday said Iran had been offered incentives by the West to end the stand-off and urged Tehran to respond positively.
"We have also laid out a path where Iran could enter the international community in a positive way," Rice said.
She said it was time for Iran to "get on the right side of the international community. It ought to be talking about that, not about threats against America or threats against America's allies because frankly it's not going to do them any good," Rice said.