"Iran is working every single day with as many assets as they can muster, trying to take hold of this legitimate movement for democracy"

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Tuesday that Iran was “aggressively” trying to take advantage of the domestic upheavals across the Arab world, and warned that the United States needed to maintain robust aid and involvement in the region to keep Tehran from succeeding.

Clinton described Iran as working “every single day with as many assets as they can muster, trying to take hold of this legitimate movement for democracy,” in testimony before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.

 “There’s no doubt in my mind if we are not present, and present in resources, not just in rhetoric, not just saying what we’re for but being able to deliver on that, others will fill that vacuum,” cautioned Clinton. “We are in a competition. I just stress over and over again, we’ve got to be there. We’ve got to fight back.”

Clinton also indicated that the US was trying to take the initiative in ensuring that the implementation of more democratic governments would not be exploited by groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

“We are trying to suggest certain guidelines that should be used for determining whether a political party or any organization should be included in elections, included in government,” she noted, adding that when it came to whether the Muslim Brotherhood could abide by democratic institutions, “the jury is out.”

In addition, Clinton indicated that the US would be taking a “tougher tone” on Iran and its human rights issue.

“We have to go chapter and verse about everything that Iran is doing that abuses the rights of their own people and exposes their hypocrisy as they try to somehow identify with the legitimate aspirations for democracy and human rights in this region,” she stressed, noting that in the past, the administration had “modulated” its message because Iran would “basically paint anybody who opposed them as American stooges.”

Clinton also underscored that the US remained committed to ratcheting up the pressure of sanctions against Iran, “constantly looking to improve them, to strengthen them, to tighten them.”

Answering a question whether the US would be able to continue its efforts to press for “peace” between Israelis and Palestinians despite the uncertainty in the region, Clinton answered that it remained a priority. “Our work continues,” she said, adding that in the changed landscape, “we believe that there’s an opportunity for Israel.”

She said that when it came to Israel’s choice of whether to pursue a peace process with Syria, “we would support anything that Israel would decide is in Israel’s best interests when dealing with Syria.”