Washington: The White House has again deniedit had plans to invade Iran,emphasising diplomacy with the Islamic republic and asserting great respect,admiration and affection for the people of Iran.

"Let me reassure you and everybody else -We re not planning on invading Iran," spokesman Tony Snow said withevident frustration at stubborn speculation that an imposing US buildup in the Gulf means war with Tehran.

 
"Instead, the strategy continues to be the use of diplomacy as a way ofputting pressure on the regime in Tehran"on issues like its nuclear programme, the spokesman told reporters.

"This government has a lot of respect, admiration and affection for thepeople of Iran," said Snow, who reiterated US plans to hit alleged Iranianand Syrian support for insurgents attacking US forces in Iraq.

"When it comes to people on Iraqi soil trying to kill Americans, trying tomove arms that are going to be used to kill Americans or innocent Iraqis, it isa matter of military necessity to confront them and take them on," hesaid.

"When you have the presence of Iranians on Iraqi soil killing Americans,that is provocative," said the spokesman.

 
US President George W Bush announced last week he had ordered a second USaircraft carrier battle group to the Gulf and announced the deployment of aPatriot missile defence battalion to the region to protect allies againstpotential Iranian missile strikes.

In a speech unveiling his new strategy for Iraq,Bush also vowed that US forces would seek out and destroy any networksfunneling weapons or fighters from Syriaor Iran into Iraq.