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London (AFP): The United States' ambassador to NATO defended Friday a US military build-up in the Gulf in response to what she said was an increasingly “aggressive” stance by Iran. Victoria Nuland, in an interview with Sky News television, vowed to defend US interests in the region, where she said many people were “very scared” of the Islamic republic's intentions. US President George W. Bush recently ordered a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf, raising the US naval presence in the region to its highest level since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
“For a long time the Iranians have been increasing their aggressive actions in the region, and they have been counting on the US being too tied down in Iraq to do what we have traditionally done, which is to maintain a strong military presence in the Gulf,” Nuland told Sky.
The US is committed to “support our friends and partners in that part of the world, many of whom are very scared, particularly in the Gulf region, of Iran's aggressive behaviour,” she said.
“So it is appropriate that we show our presence, that we be there and that we make clear that we are prepared to defend our interests and we are prepared to support our friends.”
The United States, which suspects Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon under the guise of its civilian atomic energy programme, is leading efforts to isolate Iran through UN sanctions.
