Panetta prepared to use 'other options' to stop Iran

US defense secretary hints that US is prepared to use military force, saying "we have options that we are prepared to implement to ensure" Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.

By YAAKOV KATZ
Leon Panetta and Binyamin Netanyahu 390 (photo credit: Moshe Milner / GPO)
Leon Panetta and Binyamin Netanyahu 390
(photo credit: Moshe Milner / GPO)
The United States hinted it is prepared to use military force to stop Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, visiting US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said on Wednesday.
Panetta made the remarks during a visit to an Iron Dome counter rocket defense system outside the city of Asheklon together with Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
"If they continue and if they proceed with a nuclear weapon ... we have options that we are prepared to implement to ensure that that does not happen," Panetta said.
While expressing skepticism that sanctions would succeed in stopping Iran - on Tuesday President Barack Obama announced two new rounds of sanctions against Iran's envy and banking sectors - Barak hailed the Israeli-US alliance, even while admitting that there were disagreements on Iran.
"There are disagreements but this does not affect the profound depth of our ties and we plan to keep it that way," Barak said.
Earlier, Defense Minister Ehud Barak praised Panetta for his role in enhancing security ties between the US and Israel as the two met in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
"Ties between Israel an the US in the security realm are as strong and close as they have ever been, and without a doubt, a substantial part of the credit belongs to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta," Barak said.
Calling Panetta "not just a personal friend for many years, but a friend of Israel," Barak went on to say that "The US and Israel see reality in much the same way, and there is much to discuss, as the regional problems are serious and numerous."
Speaking before the meeting, Panetta said, "Our countries have a strong bond, not only of friendship but of security."
"We will do everything we can to defend both of our countries," he added.
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
Click here for full Jpost coverage of the Iranian threat
Ahead of Panetta's arrival in Israel on Tuesday night, Israeli officials said they expected him to press Israel to give more time for sanctions before launching a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Speaking at a press conference in Cairo shortly before departing for Israel, Panetta said he would be talking about “various contingencies,” but said specific military plans would not be put forward.
“I think it is the wrong characterization to say we are going to be discussing potential attack plans,” he said. “What we are discussing are various contingencies and how we would respond.”
Asked whether these included military options, he said: “We obviously continue to work on a number of options in that area, but the discussions that I hope to have with Israel are going to be more about what is the threat that we’re confronting and to try to share both information and intelligence on that.”
The US has said it is determined to prevent Iran from getting the bomb, but has called on Israel to give more time for increasingly severe economic sanctions to work.
“Both of our countries are committed to ensuring that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon and to that extent we continue to work together in the effort to ensure that Iran does not reach that point of developing a nuclear weapon,” Panetta said.
Jpost.com Staff  and Reuters contributed to this report.