Military action against Iran could threaten Americans: Carney

Washington, Mar 1: The US is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, but fears that any military action against Tehran would create "greater instability" in the region and threatens safety of Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"We are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters but said ..."any military action in that region threatens greater instability." Iran borders both Afghanistan and Iraq, Carney said during his daily briefing, adding, "We have civilian personnel in Iraq, we have military personnel as well as civilians in Afghanistan."

His remarks come as the Obama Administration has said that it wants a political solution to the crisis that includes the IAEA monitoring Tehran's nuclear programme.

"So the fact that we do have inspectors who are able to provide visibility into their programmes does not mean that they have been entirely cooperative, because they have not," Carney said.

Saying that Washington continued to ratchet pressure on Iran, Carney said ..."they are subject to broad and increasing sanctions by the United States and the entire international community," "That pressure will continue and it has had an effect on both the economy and on the political leadership," he said.

The White House, he said, has made very clear that it is not taking any option off the table as it pursues a policy designed to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"We believe that the policy that we've been pursing, unifying the international community and pressuring and isolating Tehran, creates the best opportunity for ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon," he said.

PTI