Iran poses a threat to the United States and the Middle East despite a US intelligence assessment that Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said today.
In a speech to the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, the Pentagon chief argued Iran still has the capability to restart its weapons program and continues to enrich uranium, an essential part of atomic weapons development.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates
He also accused Iran of actively supporting insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Islamist groups Hizbullah and Hamas, and that its missile program poses a wider threat throughout the region.
"Everywhere you turn, it is the policy of Iran to foment instability and chaos, no matter the strategic value or cost in the blood of innocents - Christians, Jews and Muslims alike," Mr Gates said.
"There can be little doubt that their destabilizing foreign policies are a threat to the interests of the United States, to the interests of every country in the Middle East and to the interests of all countries within the range of the ballistic missiles Iran is developing."
Mr Gates also argued that the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear program did not rule out Tehran restarting its pursuit of atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear program has only peaceful civilian aims.
"The Estimate is explicit that Iran is keeping its options open and could re-start its nuclear weapons program at any time - I would add, if it has not done so already," the former CIA director told the conference.
"Although the Estimate does not say so, there are no impediments to Iran's re-starting its nuclear weapons program - none, that is, but the international community."