In an interview with Al-Hurra TV, Robert Gates, US Secretary of Defense, said: The Iranian regime sends advanced weapons for the extremist groups in southern Iraq in order to demolish US Forces’ efforts for establishing security. The Multi National Forces have been taken by surprise for the flow of such an extent of weapons by the Iranian regime for law breaking groups in the southern Iraqi regions and have expressed their dissatisfaction; we are concerned about this; these weapons cause killing Iraqi citizens which is regrettable.
Robert Gates added: It seems that the Iranian regime has numerous motivations and objectives including expansion and strengthening of its meddling in southern Iraq and ultimately in other parts of Iraq to create trouble in the country; I believe the Iranian regime has other motives too, all of which are concentrated on creating problems for us, but the reality is that the Iraqi people are victims of the Iranian regime’s objectives.