US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that all options, including the threat of a military option, is on the table to counter challenges and dangers posed by Iran developing nuclear weapons, but it will be the last option.
Hagel made this comment when he met with US troops at an air base in South West Asia.
Responding to a question by an Air Force lieutenant about the effectiveness of economic sanctions against Iran, the secretary said "We are employing all the tools that wise, great powers employ when dealing with issues, challenges and dangers." The United States and the international community, to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, are working through diplomatic channels and using economic sanctions in that determined effort, he added.
"The economic sanctions against Iran are the most effective, most international, most penetrating economic sanctions that I think have ever been employed against a country," he said. "And we do know by every metric applied that it is doing significant damage to Iran's economy."
The general approach, Hagel noted, is to use every available tool. These include the threat of a military option and the building of international and regional consensus on the way to deal with Iran.
"You take the entire universe of these capabilities and assets and you focus them," Hagel told the service members. "The military option in these situations is always an option, but I believe and I know [President Barack Obama] believes that should be the last option."
The secretary said he doesn't know if the efforts being applied in dealing with Iran will change their attitude about moving toward developing and potentially delivering a nuclear weapon. But, he added, "we have the time, we have the assets, we continue to build international consensus, … and we are working toward that."
Tonight, on the last evening of his Middle East trip, Hagel will meet and then dine with Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates armed forces.
The secretary's Middle East trip, which began April 20 and will end April 26, has taken the secretary to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to discuss with military and government leaders common issues and interests in the region.
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