Visiting commander of US Central Command Admiral William J.
Fallon on Thursday denied an attack on Iran soon, saying that the
Iranian issue should be solved through diplomatic channels.
Fallon made the denial to reporters after his meeting with
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Egypt's Red Sea resort
Sharmel-Sheikh, the official MENA news agency reported here.
Asked whether the United States would attack Iran soon,
especially as Washington beefed up military presence in the Gulf
region recently, the top U.S. officer gave a negative answer.
"Washington already had its hands full in Iraq and Afghanistan,"
he explained.
Talking on the Iranian nuclear issue, Fallon told the reporters
that Iran should be convinced through diplomatic channels that
seeking to possess nuclear weapons is not a good idea.
He, meanwhile, expressed that the United States in general does
not encourage nuclear proliferation in the Middle East region and
is keen on maintaining the peace and security of the region.
Enhanced military nuclear capabilities of countries in the
region would be counterproductive and even unwarranted, he said,
while being asked about the danger posed by Israel's nuclear
weapons to regional security and stability in light of the U.S.
hardline stance towards the Iranian nuclear program.
The U.S. stance towards Tehran is as clear and firm as that of
UN member states, Fallon said, accusing Iran of pursuing a program
leading to producing nuclear weapons, which were "Gulf leaders'
concerns about Iran's intentions".
Tehran has denied the allegation.
Fallon's visit to Egypt is part of his first regional tour since
he assumed post last month succeeding General John P. Abizaid.
He has already visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, where he
met with the countries' leaders and top officials to listen to
their views on regional issues and discussed bilateral cooperation
with them.
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(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2007)
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