WASHINGTON, Feb 1: US President George W. Bush has said that he has no intention to invade Iran but he will respond firmly if Iran foments violence in Iraq.

“I have no intent upon … going into Iran,” Mr Bush told the National Public Radio, a popular US radio channel.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid had said earlier this week that President Bush will have come to the Senate for approval if he is thinking of invading Iran.

Mr Bush has said on several occasions that he will not allow Iran to make nuclear weapons or to create problems for US troops in neighbouring Iraq, causing political pundits to predict that the administration may invade Iran.

Reacting strongly to Mr Reid’s suggestion, Mr Bush said: “This is the kind of thing that happens in Washington. People ascribe, you know, motives to me beyond a simple statement.”