WASHINGTON — Using U.S. military might force Iran to halt its nuclear program would yield only temporary results, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told senators Thursday, adding that sanctions make more sense.
The only way to eliminate Iran’s determination to have nuclear weapons is for Tehran to make that decision itself, Gates said.
"Even a military attack will only buy us time and send the program deeper and more covert,” he said.
Instead, he said that the U.S. and its allies must convince Iran that its nuclear ambitions will spark an arms race that will leave the country less secure.
Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. should work with its allies on tougher international sanctions. Gates also said that the U.S. should pursue partnerships with Russia on missile defense programs in the region to further isolate Iran and to give Tehran economic and diplomatic reasons to voluntarily abandon its nuclear interests.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said that the U.S. should also close loopholes that subsidiaries of U.S. companies exploit to do business with Iran.
The secretary of state said the United States continues to work with allies on increased international sanctions and agreed that America should ensure that "we have our own house in order as to any of the sanctions that we should be implementing going forward.”
Iran repeatedly has denied it is seeking to build a nuclear weapon and is only engaged in a civilian atomic energy program.
The Obama administration has made overtures to the Iranians, appealing to Tehran to cooperate in talks over the country’s feared nuclear buildup.
Congress is taking up a proposal which would give the Obama administration more leverage over Iran by toughening economic sanctions on foreign oil.
The only way to eliminate Iran’s determination to have nuclear weapons is for Tehran to make that decision itself, Gates said.
"Even a military attack will only buy us time and send the program deeper and more covert,” he said.
Instead, he said that the U.S. and its allies must convince Iran that its nuclear ambitions will spark an arms race that will leave the country less secure.
Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. should work with its allies on tougher international sanctions. Gates also said that the U.S. should pursue partnerships with Russia on missile defense programs in the region to further isolate Iran and to give Tehran economic and diplomatic reasons to voluntarily abandon its nuclear interests.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said that the U.S. should also close loopholes that subsidiaries of U.S. companies exploit to do business with Iran.
The secretary of state said the United States continues to work with allies on increased international sanctions and agreed that America should ensure that "we have our own house in order as to any of the sanctions that we should be implementing going forward.”
Iran repeatedly has denied it is seeking to build a nuclear weapon and is only engaged in a civilian atomic energy program.
The Obama administration has made overtures to the Iranians, appealing to Tehran to cooperate in talks over the country’s feared nuclear buildup.
Congress is taking up a proposal which would give the Obama administration more leverage over Iran by toughening economic sanctions on foreign oil.
by the associated press
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