Bush calls Iran-U.S. sea confrontation "provocative"

Source: Xinhua | 01-09-2008 08:00

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush described on Tuesday Iran's act in the recent confrontation between the ships of the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz as "provocative."

U.S. President George W. Bush makes a  statement in the Rose Garden of the  White House in Washington Jan. 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

It is the first direct response from Bush himself on the incident.

Asked by a reporter at a news conference on whether Iran intended to provoke the United States into a fight in the incident, he said, "I think it was a provocative act."

"It is a dangerous situation. They should not have done it, pure and simple," he added.

"Iran was a threat. And Iran will continue to be a threat if they are allowed to learn how to enrich uranium," he said.

The Pentagon said Monday that five Iranian boats had harassed and threatened three U.S. Navy warships in international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.

Bush administration officials immediately warned Iran to refrain from taking "provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future."

But Iran responded by calling the incident "something normal" and said the incident has been resolved.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei