USA Africa Dialogue Series - Paneta Warns Against Military Strike Against Iran

Panetta warns on Iran strike consequences

US defence chief cautions on regional fallout from any military strike against Iran. Last Modified: 11 Nov 2011 01:46

Panetta says  a strike on Iran will only delay its nuclear programme [EPA] US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that military action against Iran could lead to "unintended consequences" for the region. "You've got to be careful of unintended consequences here," Panetta told reporters at a Pentagon press conference on Thursday. His comments came only hours after Tehran itself warned that any attack on its nuclear sites would be met with "iron fists." Panetta, who in July succeeded Robert Gates in the Pentagon's top post, said his assessment is in line with his predecessor's. He maintained that a strike on Iran might fail to deter Iran "from what they want to do" and would only delay its controversial nuclear programme. "But more importantly, it could have a serious impact in the region, and it could have a serious impact on US forces in the region," he said. "And I think all of those things, you know, need to be carefully considered." 'Toughest sanctions' Panetta stressed instead on US efforts to win tougher sanctions against Tehran. "It is important for us to make sure we apply the toughest sanctions -- economic, diplomatic pressures -- on Iran to change their behaviour," he said. "And we are in discussions with our allies with regards to additional sanctions that ought to be placed on Iran." The European Union may approve fresh sanctions against Iran within weeks, after a UN agency said Tehran had worked to design nuclear bombs, EU diplomats said on Thursday. EU sanctions would be a significant part of Western efforts to ratchet up pressure on Tehran. Western governments would prefer UN Security Council measures against Tehran, but Russia and China, both permanent UN Security Council members with veto power, are opposed. Tensions over Tehran's nuclear programme were re-ignited on Tuesday when a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Iran had worked on designing a bomb and that research to that end may be on-going. Israel exacerbated speculation of a strike against Iran after last week's testing of a ballistic missilecapable of traveling the 6,437 kilometres to Iran. Israel's first test-fire of a missile in three years came after Israeli media speculation alleging Benyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Ehud Barak, defence minister, of planning a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran has warned that it will respond to any attacks by hitting Israel and US interests in the Gulf. "Our enemies, particularly the Zionist regime (Israel), America and its allies, should know that any kind of threat and attack or even thinking about any (military) action will be firmly responded to," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on state television.