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Last update - 23:25 21/05/2009
U.S. military: Nuke-armed Iran would be 'calamitous'
By Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Iran, Nuclear 

The consequences of Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon would be "calamitous" and major powers must act together to prevent it, the top U.S. military commander said on Thursday.

Admiral Mike Mullen's remarks came the day after Iran's president announced the country had tested a missile that analysts said could hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf, a major source of crude oil for the United States.

Israel, the United States and other Western powers are concerned that Iran could combine elements of its uranium enrichment and missile programs to create a nuclear weapon, although Tehran denies it intends to do this.
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"I'm one who believes that Iran getting a nuclear weapon is calamitous for the region and for the world," Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"It then, in my view, generates neighbors who feel exposed, deficient and then develop or buy the capability themselves," he said, suggesting Iran's acquisition of a nuclear weapon likely would trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

"The downside, potentially, is absolutely disastrous."

But Mullen did not suggest the United States should take military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

He echoed the Obama administration's policy that big powers should work together to persuade Iran not to pursue a nuclear bomb and halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons generally.

"Major leaders, internationally, have got to come together to arrest this growth or the long-term downside for the people in the world is really, really tragic and drastic," he said.

Israel and the United States have not ruled out military action against Iran but the Obama administration has adopted a policy of trying to engage Tehran diplomatically to resolve differences.

President Barack Obama said on Monday he hoped to begin negotiations with Tehran soon, after Iran holds elections next month. Iran's leaders largely have rebuffed his efforts so far to reach out to them, and toughened their rhetoric.

Obama also set a rough timetable for his diplomatic outreach, saying that by the end of this year the United States should have a sense of whether the effort was making progress.

Mullen has previously expressed concern that a military strike against Iran could add further turmoil to the unstable Middle East.

A U.S. National Intelligence Estimate issued in late 2007 concluded that Iran did have a nuclear weapons program but put the program on hold in 2003.

U.S. officials say they believe Tehran still wants to acquire at least the capability to make a nuclear bomb. Iran says its nuclear program is only to produce electricity so it can export more of its valuable oil and gas.


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      1.   A shy Adm. Mullen weary of punching Obama`s baloon. 00:49  |  Fortuna Benmayor 22/05/09
      2.   The time to engage Iran was 6-8 years ago 01:27  |  MichaelF 22/05/09
      3.   Let us stop them 01:55  |  Baruch Gold 22/05/09
      4.   Iran`s nuclear program 02:27  |  Canadian Jew 22/05/09
      5.   Iran 03:24  |  Michael 22/05/09
      6.   Gold no. 1 03:27  |  steve 22/05/09
      7.   Nukes not a problem 03:53  |  Morris Valentine 22/05/09
      8.   Canadian Jew # 2 Battleships? What Battleships? 04:26  |  Jeff Northridge 22/05/09
      9.   India & Pakistan have nukes and adding Iran ... 07:55  |  Samuel Prime 22/05/09
      10.   Moriss, I think you intentionally left out Pakistan... 08:59  |  BBSNews 22/05/09
      11.   Steve, in Minneapolis: Correct analysis. 09:00  |  Maki 22/05/09
      12.   Got in ONE, Admiral... 09:01  |  PADDY 22/05/09
      13.   Do not panic 09:02  |  Shimon Cleopas 22/05/09
      14.   Get down to the base Baruch and get on a jet... 09:03  |  BBSNews 22/05/09
      15.   The US has mo to loos then gain if Iran and Obama find common 09:15  |  Alex 22/05/09
      16.   Oh yeah! Sure thing. Like back then with Iraq, ey? 09:48  |  Goy 22/05/09
      17.   OF COURSE 09:59  |  indrajaya 22/05/09
      18.   ` Nuke-armed Iran would be "calamitous" ` 10:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/05/09
      19.   President Kim of North Korea and Ahmadinajad of Iran 10:13  |  Daniel Leopold 22/05/09
      20.   the words of the libyan foreign minister 11:18  |  samuel the seer 22/05/09
      21.   mike mullen the chairman of the joint chiefs 11:21  |  haim erez 22/05/09
      22.   It is not the Nukes that are `calamitous` 11:25  |  Tzfonit 22/05/09
      23.   Iran - a noble country. 11:32  |  Razi 22/05/09
      24.   Admiral you got it wrong again! 11:40  |  Jamshid 22/05/09
      25.   razi "iran is noble" 11:53  |  yair 22/05/09
      26.   #20 Razi "Iran is noble" 12:25  |  H 22/05/09
      27.   #21 Jamshid - Exactly... 13:01  |  PADDY 22/05/09
      28.   #20 13:27  |  Enrico 22/05/09
      29.   future 13:30  |  ehud 22/05/09
      30.   paddy to jamshid 13:31  |  dodgy priest 22/05/09
      31.   razi 13:39  |  oz 22/05/09
      32.   feelings 13:47  |  oz 22/05/09
      33.   ISRAEL ! WHY SHE IS ALWAYS THE CENTER OF PROBLEMS ? 15:03  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 22/05/09
      34.   To all the bloggers on this site. 15:45  |  John Allen 22/05/09
      35.   Iran`s civilian nuclear programme 16:09  |  Matty Groves 22/05/09
      36.   Self Preservation. 16:10  |  Cool B 22/05/09
      37.   "I can have one, but you cannot!"-- The World`s Nuke Club 20:27  |  Lasmarch 22/05/09
      38.   Atilla Karagozoglu 22:04  |  David Israel 22/05/09
      39.   If ahmadinejad wants to persue civil nuke program,it should be co 23:12  |  Susanna/Shoshana 22/05/09
      40.   "Nuke-Armed Iran would be Calamitous" 23:18  |  Gary 22/05/09
      41.   Razi-#23-Israel doesn`t threaten the region 01:09  |  Daniel Leopold 23/05/09
      42.   no 5 Micheal, no 8 Jeff 01:48  |  Canadian Jew 23/05/09
      43.   samuel seer- haim & yair oh dear 02:07  |  S. Mallmind 23/05/09
      44.   Fate of Iran 03:44  |  Jerome David 23/05/09
      45.   Israel`s nukes 03:46  |  Marty Martieve 23/05/09
      46.   Let Israel live in peace - Israel will not erase you . 04:13  |  Mordechai Dahan 23/05/09
      47.   For Jerome David # 43 05:17  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/05/09
      48.   Nuclear armed US and Israel is the calamity 05:57  |  jim the mechanic 23/05/09
      49.   Cool B-Your mendacious statements 11:02  |  Daniel Leopold 23/05/09
      50.   Simple - Just do not attack Israel 18:00  |  Mordechai Dahan 23/05/09
      51.   #48, Happy we have a first-strike 19:48  |  Gary 23/05/09
      52.   #34 Say John Allen, you are right! 19:54  |  ballistic 23/05/09
      53.   #49 Gee Mordechai, care to share 19:58  |  ballistic 23/05/09
      54.   #50 So who is driving the nuke arms race? 20:25  |  jim the mechanic 23/05/09
      55.   #36 You are RIGHT ON! 22:36  |  Alaska 23/05/09
      56.   Nuke-armed Iran as `calamitous` as Road map 03:16  |  Joseph.E 24/05/09
      57.   Nuke-armed Iran as `calamitous` as 2 states for 2 people vision 03:17  |  Joseph.E 24/05/09
      58.   Iran is not a rational player and will use nukes to spread their 03:54  |  ks 24/05/09
      59.   TO NO 18 CIPORA GOOD MORNING SHAVOA TOV. 13:42  |  DANNY 24/05/09
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