US Not Provoking Iran : Burns

[Van]

Renewing a proposal for a diplomatic settlement, the Bush administration has said two aircraft carrier groups were in the Gulf to reassure friendly governments in the area and not to provoke Iran.

"It remains an area of vital importance to us," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"We are not there to provoke any military conflict," Burns said.

"Diplomacy is our preferred course of action in blocking and containing the Iranian regime," he said while renewing an offer to hold talks with Iran about its nuclear programme if Iran temporarily suspends uranium enrichment.

The United States would suspend its sanctions against Iran for the same negotiating period, Burns said.

"I do not believe a military confrontation with Iran is either desirable or inevitable," Burns said, "If we continue our skillful diplomatic course and have the patience to see it play out over the long term I am confident we can avoid conflict and see our strategy succeed," he said.

On Tuesday, 15 US warships and more than 100 US aircraft participated in the largest show of force in the Gulf since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"The Gulf is not an Iranian lake," he said.

"We have stationed two carrier battle groups in the Gulf, not to provoke Iran, but to reassure our friends in the region that it remains an area of vital importance to us," Burns said.

American commanders have rejected any suggestion the maneuvers were a direct response to Iran's capture last Friday of 15 British sailors and marines.

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Do you believe these steps by US are not going to provoke Iran?
Do you believe its not preparation for another iraq?

[KimmyBear]

No I really don't think so. I believe it is of the utmost importance that the US hold a firm grip in the middle east until such a time in which peace can be established. Over there, that really isn't so possible right now especially with the large amounts of holy wars that are constantly being raged. Iran will not be another Iraq but they need to understand that the US is in control as to realise that they cannot be supporting Terrorist groups behind the worlds back like they have been doing for so long.