Unclear if Iran leaders ordered weapons to Iraq-Bush

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (Reuters) President George W Bush said today he did not know if the leaders of Iran ordered members of the Quds Force of Iran's Revolutionary Guards to provide improvised explosive devices to militias in Iraq.

''What we do know is that the Quds Force was instrumental in providing these deadly IEDs to networks inside of Iraq,'' he said.

''What we don't know is whether or not the head leaders of Iran ordered the Quds Force to do what they did.'' His comments contrasted with comments by US officials in Baghdad who had said earlier that the highest levels of the Iranian government were involved. The Quds Force is part of the Iranian government.

Bush said it did not matter whether Tehran was directly involved or not, rather that the weapons were in Iraq and doing damage to US-led forces who were trying to quell sectarian violence.

''There's no contradiction that they're there,'' he said. ''I intend to do something about it ... we're going to protect our troops.'' Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad denied on Monday that Iran was supplying sophisticated weapons to Iraqi militants and said peace would return to Iraq only when US and other foreign forces leave.

Reuters KR DB2335