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Fallon: Iranian behavior unhelpful

CAIRO, Egypt — The Iranians need to realize that the U.S. is ready to stand up to them and the region is concerned about their radical rhetoric, the top American commander in the Middle East said Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Central Command chief Adm.William J. Fallon said that Iran’s behavior since he assumed his post eight months earlier has not been helpful.

“I don’t want the Iranians to make a mistake and feel that we are afraid of them or not willing to stand up for things that we should in this region,” he said. “There’s concern over the Iranian behavior, concern in the region from the radical talk that is constantly threatening other people.”

Fallon was in Egypt for the massive regional Bright Star military exercises held every two years between Egypt and the United States that include several other nations.

“Iran is a challenge to us, to me as a commander in chief in this area,” he added. “Iran’s behavior has not been very helpful in the region.” The U.S. accuses Iran of supporting armed groups in Iraq that attack American forces — a charge the Iranians deny.

In the course of his trip, Fallon also met with Egypt’s defense minister, Hussein el-Tantawi and the foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

It would be Fallon’s responsibility to draw up on plans for a conventional strike against Iran if ordered by a U.S. government increasingly at odds with Tehran over its nuclear program. The commander has in the past, however, played down the prospects of a conflict.

“We would like to see the Iranians actively seek ways to cooperate with other countries and not be challenging the other nations of the world,” he said.