Gates: Military options against Iran would only provide temporary, ineffective fix

Officials downplay military options vs Iran

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the military option for forcing Iran to halt its nuclear program would be just temporary and ineffective and that sanctions make more sense.

Gates told Senate appropriators Thursday that a military attack on Iran would merely send that country’s nuclear program further underground. Instead, he said that the United States and its allies must convince Tehran that its nuclear ambitions will spark an arms race that will leave the country less secure.

Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. should work with its allies on tougher international sanctions. Gates also said that the U.S. should pursue partnerships with Russia on missile defense programs in the region to further isolate Iran and to give Tehran economic and diplomatic reasons to voluntarily abandon its nuclear interests.