US warns Iran to stop aiding Iraqi insurgents

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) Iran is supplying Iraqi insurgents with weapons technology used to kill American troops, a senior US diplomat said, sending another warning to Iran against interfering in Iraq.

''We have picked up individuals who we believe are giving very sophisticated explosive technology to Shia insurgent groups who then use that technology to target and kill American soldiers,'' Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said yesterday.

''It's a very serious situation. And the message from the United States is, Iran should cease and desist.'' The United States has been tracking Iranian involvement in in Iraqi insurgent attacks for about two years and has found increasing evidence that Iran has given assistance to Shi'ite in Southern Iraq, Burns said in an interview with NPR taped for broadcast on Thursday.

''They have attacked British soldiers near Basra and they've now begun to mount those operations throughout the country - at least in the Baghdad region as well,'' Burns said.

Washington officials have charged that Iran is providing Shi'ites with high-grade explosives capable of tearing through the armor on military vehicles.

The Bush administration has repeatedly warned Iran against fueling violence in Iraq and US forces have detained a number of Iranian officials in raids over the past month.

''We warned Iran privately on a number of occasions over the last year and a half and the Iranians, of course, did not appear to listen to that, so now we've begun to detain those Iranian officials,'' Burns said in the interview.

''We think it's absolutely within our rights to do so under Article 51 of the UN charter, which is self-defense.'' Washington accuses Tehran of undermining efforts to stabilise Iraq and of pursuing nuclear weapons.

Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, told The New York Times this week that Tehran was stepping up its military and economic ties with Baghdad. He also ridiculed evidence the US military said it has which proves Iranian involvement in planning attacks on American and Iraqi forces.

US President George W Bush has stressed he is seeking a diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme, but has vowed to respond firmly if Tehran escalates its military action in Iraq, reviving speculation about a possible US attack on Iran.

Two US aircraft carriers have been stationed in the Gulf as a warning to Iran.

Reuters SBA VP0805