US defence chief tells Congress military options remain against Iran
Washington (dpa) - US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter assured
lawmakers Wednesday that a deal on Iran's nuclear programme between
Tehran and world powers would not limit the Washington's ability to
respond with military force if needed.
"If Iran were to commit aggression, our robust force posture ensures we can rapidly surge an overwhelming array of forces into the region, leveraging our most advanced capabilities, married with sophisticated munitions that put no target out of reach," Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Carter's remarks came as US President Barack Obama's administration attempts to sell the deal reached earlier this month to sceptical lawmakers.
He defended the deal as preferable to a military strike, which he warned would only keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon temporarily and would prompt Tehran to commit to a nuclear weapons programme.
He urged lawmakers to support the international agreement.
"This is a good deal because it removes a continued source of threat and uncertainty in a comprehensive and verifiable way, by preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon," he said. "It's a deal that takes no option away from a future president. This is an important achievement and a deal that deserves your support."
Carter, who toured the Middle East last week to discuss the agreement with allies, pledged ongoing US support to Israel, whose government has been outspoken against the deal, as well as to Gulf allies, who are concerned about a resurgent Iran in the region.
Israel's opposition to the deal has been a major sticking point for many US lawmakers, who have raised concerns that restrictions on Iran's activities are not in place for long enough and that Tehran will receive a cash windfall - as frozen assets are released - that can be spent on destabilizing activities in the region.
"The Iran agreement not only paves Iran's path to a nuclear capability, it will further Iran's emergence as a dominant military power in the Middle East," Senator John McCain said.
Secretary of State John Kerry, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey also testified before the committee, and Obama was to meet later Wednesday with Democratic lawmakers behind closed doors to discuss the deal.
Under a US law passed in May, Congress has until September 17 to weigh in on the agreement. In practice, it would take two-thirds majorities in the Senate and the House to scuttle the deal, which is considered unlikely.
"If Iran were to commit aggression, our robust force posture ensures we can rapidly surge an overwhelming array of forces into the region, leveraging our most advanced capabilities, married with sophisticated munitions that put no target out of reach," Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Carter's remarks came as US President Barack Obama's administration attempts to sell the deal reached earlier this month to sceptical lawmakers.
He defended the deal as preferable to a military strike, which he warned would only keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon temporarily and would prompt Tehran to commit to a nuclear weapons programme.
He urged lawmakers to support the international agreement.
"This is a good deal because it removes a continued source of threat and uncertainty in a comprehensive and verifiable way, by preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon," he said. "It's a deal that takes no option away from a future president. This is an important achievement and a deal that deserves your support."
Carter, who toured the Middle East last week to discuss the agreement with allies, pledged ongoing US support to Israel, whose government has been outspoken against the deal, as well as to Gulf allies, who are concerned about a resurgent Iran in the region.
Israel's opposition to the deal has been a major sticking point for many US lawmakers, who have raised concerns that restrictions on Iran's activities are not in place for long enough and that Tehran will receive a cash windfall - as frozen assets are released - that can be spent on destabilizing activities in the region.
"The Iran agreement not only paves Iran's path to a nuclear capability, it will further Iran's emergence as a dominant military power in the Middle East," Senator John McCain said.
Secretary of State John Kerry, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey also testified before the committee, and Obama was to meet later Wednesday with Democratic lawmakers behind closed doors to discuss the deal.
Under a US law passed in May, Congress has until September 17 to weigh in on the agreement. In practice, it would take two-thirds majorities in the Senate and the House to scuttle the deal, which is considered unlikely.



