Pentagon pick Gates Iran seeks nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) Robert Gates, nominated to replace Donald Rumsfeld as US defense secretary, today said Iran was trying to acquire nuclear weapons and its leaders were lying when they said the program is strictly civilian.

''Yes, sir, I do,'' he said when asked at the US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination whether he believed Iran was seeking a nuclear weapons capability.

Asked if he believed Iran's leaders were lying, Gates responded, ''Yes, sir.'' Gates said he was not sure Iran would attack Israel with such weapons because ''the risks for them (Iran) are enormously high.'' But he also said the United States could not assure Israel that a nuclear attack by Iran would not happen.

''I don't think anybody can provide that assurance,'' he told the committee.

Iran says its nuclear work is aimed at generating electricity, but the West suspects Tehran is using the civilian program as cover to build an atomic bomb.

REUTERS SI VC2330