Navy Rear Adm. Gregory J. Smith, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Iraq, asserted that Iran is playing a destructive role in Iraq and provokes violence, Al-Hurra T.V. reported on Jan. 20.

During a press conference reviewing the achievements and activities of the MNFI in the year 2007, he said that the Iranian regime continues to back the armed militias in Iraq by training and weapons.

The MNF-I spokesman added that the level of training militias by the Iranian regime has not reduced at all and the financial supports are going on. He added that in the first week of January there has been an increase in bomb explosions in Iraq.
Reuters also reported that Adm. Smith’s stance is at a time when the tensions between US Ships and Iran over boats conflict in Persian Gulf and also US and Iran over Iranian attempt to achieve nuclear bomb have heightened.