General: Iran Behind Anti-U.S. Iraq Attacks
ABC News by way of KGO-TV  | 22JUN06 | ABC News
 

June - Iranian support for insurgents is now one of the major security challenges facing coalition forces in Iraq, Gen. George Casey said at a Pentagon briefing today.

The commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said there has been a "noticeable increase" in Iranian activities in Iraq this year. "We are quite confident that the Iranians, through their covert special operations forces, are providing weapons, IED technology and training to Shi'a extremist groups in Iraq, the training being conducted in Iran and in some cases probably in Lebanon through their surrogates," Casey said.

"They are using surrogates to conduct terrorist operations in Iraq both against us and against the Iraqi people. It's decidedly unhelpful," he said.

Others in the Bush administration are also dissatisfied with Iran. The United States and its allies are urging Iran to respond to incentives to stop developments in its nuclear programs that they suspect are aimed at the production of nuclear weapons.

Iran has said it would respond to the offer by mid-August, causing President Bush to accuse Tehran of dragging its feet.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, along with leaders from five other nations offering Iran incentives, said they expect an answer around the time of a meeting of G-8 foreign ministers in Russia next week.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was less hopeful about a timely response after a meeting with Iran's foreign minister.

"I don't think they will give an answer before the G-8 meeting in St. Petersburg," Annan said.

The G-8 meeting will take place in St. Petersburg being on June 29, with Iran likely to be among the topics of conversation.