Gates says Iranians are 'overplaying their hand'

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Iranians are "overplaying their hand" on the world stage as they think setbacks in Iraq have weakened the United States, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said. Speaking to reporters Thursday while touring the Gulf, Gates said now is not the time to negotiate with Iran because the US lacks leverage, but that talks probably would make sense later. The US has been applying growing pressure on Iran, blaming it for providing Iraqi insurgents with bombs and other material used against American troops. President George W. Bush has warned the US will "seek out and destroy" the networks providing that help.