TEHRAN, Iran – Iran says Hamas and Hezbollah are the most popular groups in the Middle East despite U.S. President George W. Bush's accusations that they destabilize the region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini says Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah group and the Palestinian militant Hamas are the most "noble and popular" groups. He spoke to reporters Monday in Tehran.
In a speech in Egypt a day earlier, Bush called Hezbollah "the enemy of a free Lebanon and all nations." He also accused Hamas of "attempting to undermine efforts at peace with acts of terror and violence."
Iran supports both Hezbollah and Hamas, which the U.S. considers terrorist groups.
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