Rice warns Iran: US will defend Israel

Charles Arthur
London Guardian
Thursday, July 10, 2008

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran on Friday 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, responding to a question on an Iranian threat to "set fire" to Israel.

"We take very strongly our obligation to defend our allies and we intend to do that," she said at a news conference in Tbilisi.

"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.

The comments by the United States' top diplomat came after Iran again ratcheted up its rhetoric against the West and on Wednesday test-fired a missile capable of hitting Israel.

Rice did not specify what steps the United States had taken to boost its security presence in the Gulf region, but said its plans focused on "America's intention and determination to prevent Iran from threatening our interest or the interests of our friends and allies.

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