Clinton Warns of U.S. Use of ‘All Elements of Power’ against Iran

by Naharnet Newsdesk 17 July 2012, 08:16

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday said Washington would use "all elements of its power" to prevent Iran going nuclear and was working in "close consultation" with Israel over how to do so.

Speaking to reporters at the end of a whirlwind 24-hour visit to Jerusalem, Clinton said that Iran not yet decided to curb its nuclear ambitions, and warned that Washington would stop at nothing to prevent it from getting a nuclear bomb.

"We will use all elements of American power to prevent Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon," she said in remarks which carried an implied threat of military action -- a course of action never ruled out by Washington.

Thanks to U.S. efforts to rally the international community to tackle the Iranian nuclear threat, Tehran was "under greater pressure than ever before," Clinton said, indicating that the Obama administration was "pressing forward in close consultation with Israel."

"I think it is fair to say we are on the same page at this moment, trying to figure our way forward to have the maximum impact on affecting the decisions that Iran makes," Clinton said.

Clinton arrived in Israel late on Sunday at the tail end of a nine-nation tour, holding talks with top officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Although Israel has warned a nuclear Iran would pose an existential threat to the Jewish state and has refused to rule out a military strike on its nuclear facilities, Peres expressed confidence in Washington's tough stance on Tehran.

"I think the coalition we have built, and the measures you have taken are beginning to have their impact... they are the right start," he told Clinton.

"We appreciate very much your position. We trust its depth and dedication and determination and we feel partners of this coalition."

Source: Agence France Presse

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