[refer to the CNN NEWS]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to capture or kill Iranian agents in Iraq who are plotting attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, a U.S. national security official said Friday.

The policy, signed by President Bush in the last couple of months, is aimed at Iranian agents involved in those activities with members of Iraqi militias, the official said.

The Bush administration and U.S. military officials have accused Iran and Syria of helping insurgents inside Iraq.

Bush and his advisers had discussed the policy since last fall. The president decided to authorize it when the situation in Iraq continued to deteriorate and because the United States is looking to get tougher with Iran, the official said.

The Washington Post first reported the development, citing "government and counterterrorism officials with direct knowledge of the effort."

A statement from National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe on Friday said: "The president has made clear for some time that we will take the steps necessary to protect Americans on the ground in Iraq and disrupt activity that could lead to their harm. Our forces have standing authority consistent with the mandate of the U.N. Security Council."

"Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force is a part of the Iranian state apparatus that supports and carries out these activities," the statement said.

This month, U.S. forces detained five Iranian nationals in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, a U.S. military officer said.

A preliminary investigation found links between the detainees and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which has provided funds, weapons, bomb technology and training to extremist groups in Iraq, the coalition said. Iranian government officials denounced the detentions and said U.S. forces had raided an Iranian liaison office.

The Iraq study group, as part of its analysis of Bush administration policy in Iraq, had recommended diplomatic engagement with Iraq's neighbors, including Iran -- a tactic that the White House has rejected.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Peter Pace criticized Iran during testimony before Congress on January 12.

"We have our special operations forces everyday working against the networks that provide the weapons that kill our troops," said Pace. "They continue to raid and they will continue to raid. One of the reasons you keep hearing about Iran, is because we keep finding their stuff in Iraq."


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