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US diplomat says Iran boosts aid to militants
Washington, Mar 12: A senior US West Asia diplomat, in a further sign of a hardening US stance toward Iran, accused it of increasing financial and operational support for anti-Israel militant groups.
Washington, Mar 12: A senior US West Asia diplomat, in
a further sign of a hardening US stance toward Iran, accused it of
increasing financial and operational support for anti-Israel
militant groups.
Against the backdrop of this week's US pressure for a UN
watchdog to condemn Iran over its nuclear programmes, deputy
assistant secretary of state David Satterfield yesterday told
the increased backing was a ''very disturbing trend.''
The longtime US enemy was delivering more money to the Lebanon-based Hizbollah and the Palestinian groups, al-Aqsa martyrs brigades and Islamic Jihad, as well as giving instructions to the Palestinian guerrillas through Hizbollah, he said.
''This is an accelerating process, not a static or a diminishing one,'' Satterfield said. ''There has been a very significant increase in funding as well as operational direction through Hizbollah through the Iranian revolutionary guard.'' ''The increasing lethality that Hizbollah brings in terms of its preparations, and in support to Palestinian acts of terror is extremely destabilizing,'' added Satterfield, whose main responsibility is promoting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Iran is officially opposed to the existence of Israel but denies arming and funding militant groups fighting the Jewish state.
While Washington repeatedly says Iran backs militants, US diplomats have not recently accused it of bolstering its support. Satterfield did not say how much Washington believed the financial aid had risen or when it first noted the trend.
A Bush administration official, who asked not to be named, said Iran had been gradually increasing its support for about two years but that it had intensified over the last five months.
''There is increased intelligence evidence that there's been a renewal of arms and support flights through Syria to Hizbollah,'' the official added.
Bureau Report
The longtime US enemy was delivering more money to the Lebanon-based Hizbollah and the Palestinian groups, al-Aqsa martyrs brigades and Islamic Jihad, as well as giving instructions to the Palestinian guerrillas through Hizbollah, he said.
''This is an accelerating process, not a static or a diminishing one,'' Satterfield said. ''There has been a very significant increase in funding as well as operational direction through Hizbollah through the Iranian revolutionary guard.'' ''The increasing lethality that Hizbollah brings in terms of its preparations, and in support to Palestinian acts of terror is extremely destabilizing,'' added Satterfield, whose main responsibility is promoting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Iran is officially opposed to the existence of Israel but denies arming and funding militant groups fighting the Jewish state.
While Washington repeatedly says Iran backs militants, US diplomats have not recently accused it of bolstering its support. Satterfield did not say how much Washington believed the financial aid had risen or when it first noted the trend.
A Bush administration official, who asked not to be named, said Iran had been gradually increasing its support for about two years but that it had intensified over the last five months.
''There is increased intelligence evidence that there's been a renewal of arms and support flights through Syria to Hizbollah,'' the official added.
Bureau Report