Until now, the United States has quietly praised longtime foe Iran for its help in the war on international terror. Iranians and Americans have worked together to fight the Taliban and to create Afghanistan's new government.
Now, however, Iran is moving to safeguard its traditional influence in western Afghanistan, apparently unnerved by growing U.S. military influence on almost all sides, analysts said.
U.S. intelligence has evidence that Iran is providing sanctuary for a small number of al-Qaida fighters who fled the fighting in Afghanistan, a U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Iran denied those reports on Thursday. An official called Bush's warning ``baseless'' and said Iran wants neighboring Afghanistan to be stable and independent.
``Iran has never been on good terms with the Taliban and their supporters,'' said Iranian Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi. ``It has been our policy not to allow terrorist groups such as al-Qaida in Iran.''
Indeed, many analysts believe Iran, which hated the Taliban and is suspicious of al-Qaida, merely is doing what Russia and Pakistan are doing: working with local warlords to guarantee their interests in Afghanistan don't get swept aside.
``Iran regards Afghanistan like we regard Mexico,'' said Judith Kipper, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. ``It is a vital, critical interest for them, and they have every right to be consulted and involved.''
Reports that al-Qaida fighters fled to Iran could simply be a sign that Iran does not totally control its border, said Ted Carpenter of the Cato Institute, noting that al-Qaida also fled to key U.S. ally Pakistan. Or hard-liners in Iran's government might be helping al-Qaida, he said. But Iran's Shiites and Afghanistan's Sunnis represent different Islamic sects, long hostile.
Since the Taliban fell, Iran has sent aid and promises of reconstruction across the border. It says it seeks a more stable Afghanistan in part so 1 1/2 million refugees now inside Iran can go home.