IRAN poses a threat to the United States and the Middle East despite a US intelligence assessment that Tehran halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday.
In a speech to the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, the Pentagon chief argued Iran still had the capability to restart its weapons programme and continued to enrich uranium, an essential part of atomic weapons development.
He also
accused Iran of actively supporting insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Islamist groups Hezbollah and Hamas, and said its missile programme poses a wider threat throughout the region.
"Everywhere you turn, it is the policy of Iran to foment instability and chaos, no matter the strategic value or cost in the blood of innocents - Christians, Jews and Muslims alike," Gates said.
"There can be little doubt that their destabilising foreign policies are a threat to the interests of the United States, to the interests of every country in the Middle East and to the interests of all countries within the range of the ballistic missiles Iran is developing."
Gates also argued that the recent US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear programme did not rule out Tehran restarting its pursuit of atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme has only peaceful civilian aims.
"The Estimate is explicit that Iran is keeping its options open and could restart its nuclear weapons programme at any time - I would add, if it has not done so already," the former CIA director told the conference.
"Although the Estimate does not say so, there are no impediments to Iran's restarting its nuclear weapons programme - none, that is, but the international community."
Gates urged Iran's neighbours to cooperate more closely in their defence activities to counter Tehran's policies and specifically consider a joint early warning system to detect missile launches. That, he said, could deter Iran from pursuing development of such weapons.
Iran cancelled its appearance at the conference.
Gates's comments follow a visit to US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, where commanders told him Iran continues to support insurgents.
Iran denies US charges that it has armed, trained and funded Shi'ite militias in Iraq, blaming the violence in Iraq on the US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Gates's remarks also come as the US military assesses Iran's ability to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a route for around 40% of all globally traded oil.
The full article contains 416 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
