NCRI – U.S. President George Bush warned Iran regime today that if it did not stop arming and training Shiite militia in Iraq then America will act to protect its interests and troops.

Mr. Bush, during a speech called the regime in Iran one of the two "greatest threats to America in this century" - together with al-Qaeda.

"The regime in Tehran also has a choice to make: They can live in peace with its neighbor, enjoy strong economic and cultural and religious ties, or it can continue to arm and train and fund illegal militant groups which are terrorizing the Iraqi people and turning them against Iran," he said.

"If Iran makes the right choice, America will encourage a peaceful relationship between Iran and Iraq. If Iran makes the wrong choice, America will act to protect our interests and our troops and our Iraqi partners," Bush said.

Mr. Bush's warnings came after two days of testimony from General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, who said Iran regime posed one of the greatest threats to stability in the region.

General Petraeus called the Iranian-backed Shiite groups and the "malevolent" influence of Tehran the greatest long-term threat to a viable Iraq.

The President spoke two hours after Ryan Crocker, the US ambassador to Iraq, said the US was ready for talks with Iran. "We are prepared to do that," he said. "If the Iranians are ready to sit we are going to point out what they are doing to undermine Iraqi security."

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The report is based on wire news dispatches