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Iran denies aiding Hizbollah

TEHERAN: Iran denied on Sunday it was helping Hizbollah in its fight against Israel in Lebanon.

``We haven't deployed any forces there [Lebanon],'' said Hamid Reza Asefi, spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry. ``We don't send weapons to the resistance. We don't support them militarily. If we choose to give them future military support, we will announce it. We have no fear of Mr. Bush and company.''

Iran is a vocal backer of Hizbollah, which is battling Israel in its southern Lebanese strongholds after its guerillas captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12.

U.S. President George W. Bush criticised Iran's role in the fighting on Thursday, saying Teheran was connected to Hizbollah, and it was ``time for the world to confront this danger.''

Mr. Asefi said Iran was willing to join talks aimed at halting the war. — AP

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