Iran has noted the death of President George H.W. Bush. A scrolling news bar on state television described Bush as being ``like other U.S. presidents who wished to see the collapse of the Islamic Republic.''

State television on Saturday morning announced Bush's death, citing international reports.

Iran remained suspicious of Bush despite his pledge of ``good will begets good will.'' Iran leaned on Lebanon's Shia militants to help win the release American hostages like Terry Anderson of The Associated Press, but relations went no further.

One of Bush's last acts as president was pardoning former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger and others for their role in the Iran-Contra scandal, an offshoot of those hostage crises.