( dpa ) - President George W Bush said Monday that the United States will not back down from Iranian-backed extremism in the Middle East and vowed to protect US interests and allies in the region against the Islamic state's growing influence.
Bush accused Iran of financing terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and vowed to continue isolating Iran until it complies with UN Security Council demands to halt uranium enrichment.
Bush pointed to Iranian support for militias blamed for attacks on US troops in Iraq, and the recent confrontation between Iranian boats and US warship sailing in international waters in the Gulf.
" America will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf," Bush said.