Iran: No reason for troops now

The United States has no excuse to keep troops in the Middle East after killing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, a senior Iranian official said today.

Foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the US can no longer keep troops to the region under the pretext of fighting terrorism now that Osama bin Laden is dead. The al-Qaida leader was killed in a raid by elite US forces in Pakistan.