Defense analyst Anthony Cordesman: Mullen told Ashkenazi US still hopes to find diplomatic solution.
By JPOST.COM STAFFmullen speaks 224.88(photo credit: AP)
The US did not give the green light for an Israeli attack on Iran, Prof. Anthony H. Cordesman, a former Pentagon official and currently the top defense analyst at the ABC TV network, said Monday.
Cordesman was speaking during a meeting with Israeli defense analysts held by the Institute of National Security Studies. He said IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi was notified of the United States' stance regarding Iran by Admiral Michael Mullen, the top uniformed US military officer, during Mullen's visit here at the end of June.
The US has opted at this point to stick to the diplomatic track in its efforts to keep Iran from going nuclear, and has made clear to Israel that it shouldn't attack Iran without White House approval, Cordesman said.
He added that the current US policy is likely to remain unchanged at least until the next US president is sworn in.
Israeli officials confirmed that Cordesman's statements indeed reflected the current tone of US policy.
Ashkenazi is slated to visit Washington DC in the coming weeks, and while the purpose of his visit remains classified, defense analysts assume that the Iranian dossier will make up a large part of his itinerary.
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