LOC22:25
19:25 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 2 (KUNA) -- The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Michael Mullen said on Wednesday that that over-stretch US military
cannot afford a strike on Iran and called for a broad dialogue with Tehran.
"I am convinced a solution still lies in using other elements of national
power to change Iranian behavior, including diplomatic, financial and
international pressure", said Mullen in a press conference in the Department
of Defense while calling for "better clarity and even dialogue at some level"
with the Iranians.
Mullen, who just came back from a trip to Europe and Israel, declined
speculating on Israeli intentions towards Iran but maintained considering Iran
as "a destabilizing factor in the region", referring to its support for Syria,
Hezbollah, and Hamas.
"From the United States' military perspective, opening up a third front
right now would be extremely stressful on us", said Mullen about a possible US
military strike on Iran.
"That does not mean we do not have capacity or reserve, but that would
really be very challenging", he added.
Mullen described his visit to Israel as "informative" where he met with
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and top military officials and took a tour
of the Israeli bases and facilities on the Syrian-Lebanese border and Gaza
Strip.
"Israel remains a vital and trusted military ally in the Middle East", he
added while noting that he discussed the "Iranian threat" with Israeli
military officials.
"I believe Iran is still on a path to get to nuclear weapons and I think
that is something that needs to be deterred", said Mullen while asserting that
there is "a very broad concern about the overall stability level in the Middle
East".
"Iran is at the center of what is unstable in that part of the world. And
it reaches all the way, you know, from Tehran to Beirut", he added.
But Mullen noted that the United States "have not had much of a dialogue
with the Iranians for a long time" and called for an engagement with Iran on a
"full spectrum of international issues while noting that this would require a
desire from Tehran to want a dialogue in return. (end)
jm.bs
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