US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last night highlighted US fears that Iran is destabilising the Middle East in a new diplomatic strategy to enlist Arab neighbours to help curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
Ms Rice, who will visit the region next week, said she will lobby for pressure against Iran by emphasising concern likely to resonate with its neighbours - its support for militant groups that she said are undermining governments in the area.
Secretary of State Condoleezza testifies at the House International Relations Committee yesterday
She told the House International Relations Committee on Capitol Hill that US strategy against Iran's suspected nuclear weapons programmes was to "remind the world that this has to be understood in the context of broader Iranian policies.
"We will not be able to address the Iranian nuclear programme and problem in a vacuum," she said. "It is Iran's regional policies that really are concerning, as we watch them, with their sidekick Syria, destabilising places like Lebanon and the Palestinian territories and, indeed, even in southern Iraq."
Iran says its nuclear programs are peaceful and denies it funds terrorist organizations in the region.
For two years, Ms Rice has gradually won more support from Europe, Russia and China for the US campaign to curb Iran's nuclear programs.
Now she wants to widen the international front pressuring Iran to Arab countries and will start with her trip to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Arab powers have expressed concern about Iran's nuclear ambitions. But it is unclear how much explicit support they can give to a US campaign against Iran when many in the region are angry at what they see as anti-Muslim American policies.
The United States concluded a lengthy campaign last month to have Iran reported to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions.