Iran's official news outlet on Thursday published an interview with Indian defence expert Bharat Verma, who said that the war in Iraq would result in political defeats of United States President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Verma, who is editor of the Indian Defence Review, a policymaking military publication, told the Islamic Republic News Agency that America and Britain are "fighting a battle to get control of Baghdad... they may succeed in this battle, but they [will] have to pay a heavy political price.

"In totality they will lose the war in Iraq."

Verma, who is a retired Indian Army captain, said that the continuance of American uni-lateralism would bring other nations, including those that are Islamic, closer to each other and they would unite against Washington's policy of aggression.

Iran and India have both condemned the US-led war on Iraq. Whereas India has called it 'unjustified,' and 'immoral', Iran has said that the war has failed to meet 'any standard of international legitimacy'.

As coalition casualties increase, so will the public anger against Bush and Blair in America and Britain, he said, adding that the deaths in the Iraqi camp will create public hatred inside Iraq against the invaders.

Antiwar protests will also intensify in different countries, Verma said.

Verma also termed as hypocritical the US criticism of Iraq's violation of the Geneva Convention. He said Washington had bypassed UN procedures to lead an almost unilateral act of aggression.

Regarding the post-war situation in Iraq, he said while Hussein would become an even greater hero in his country, Bush and Blair would lose the next elections.