Bush says Iran threat likely related to energy

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) President George W Bush said today he assumed Iran's threat to impose pain and suffering on the United States was related to the US need for imported energy resources.

Iran warned the United States on Wednesday it could inflict ''harm and pain'' to match whatever punishment Washington persuaded the UN Security Council to dole out for Tehran's refusal to give up atomic research.

''When I'm sitting around the Oval Office talking about national security matters and, somebody says 'did you see what the Iranians said about consequences?' -- really what they're talking about I guess is energy,'' Bush told a newspaper group.

''For national security purposes we have got to become...

not addicted to oil,'' Bush said.

REUTERS KD RK2138