Panetta: Iran Will Have Nuke Within a YearTuesday, 20 Dec 2011 07:38 PM Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Monday night on CBS News that despite the efforts to disrupt the Iranian nuclear program, the Iranians have reached a point where they can assemble a bomb in a year or potentially less. CBS News host Scott Pelley: So are you saying that Iran can have a nuclear weapon in 2012? Panetta: It would probably be about a year before they can do it. Perhaps a little less. But one proviso, Scott, is if they have a hidden facility somewhere in Iran that may be enriching fuel. Pelley: So that they can develop a weapon even more quickly... Panetta: On a faster track.... Pelley: Than we believe.... Panetta: That's correct. Pelley: If the Israelis decide to launch a military strike to prevent that weapon from being built, what sort of complications does that raise for you? Panetta: Well, we share the same common concern. The United States does not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. That's a red line for us and that's a red line, obviously, for the Israelis. If we have to do it we will deal with it. Pelley: You just said if we have to do it we will come and do it. What is it? Panetta: If they proceed and we get intelligence that they are proceeding with developing a nuclear weapon then we will take whatever steps necessary to stop it. Read more on Newsmax.com: Panetta: Iran Will Have Nuke Within a Year Important: Do You Support Pres. Obama's Re-Election? Vote Here Now! © Newsmax. All rights reserved. To subscribe or visit go to: http://www.newsmax.com |