Article Posted on : - Jan 09, 2012

A file photo.

WASHINGTON (PTI): Defence Secretary Leon Panetta Sunday warned Iran that the US would not tolerate blocking off the Straits of Hormuz, saying such a move would cross a "red line."

"We made very clear that the United States will not tolerate blocking of the Straits of Hormuz. That's another red line for us. And we will respond to that," Panetta told CBC 'Face the Nation' Sunday talk show.

Appearing on the same programme along with Panetta, Gen Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US has the capability to prevent Iran from doing so.

"They (Iran) have invested in capabilities that could, in fact, for a period of time block the Straits of Hormuz. We've invested in capabilities to ensure if that happens, we can defeat that," he said.

"So the simple answer is yes they can block it. Of course that is, as well, a -- we've described that as an intolerable act. And it's not just intolerable for us, it's intolerable to the world. But we would take action and reopen the Straits," Dempsey said.

Panetta said the United States does not believe Iran is actively developing a nuclear weapon, and reaffirmed Washington's preference for diplomatic and economic pressure over military action as the way to prevent Tehran's nuclear ambition.

"Are they (Iran) trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No.

But we know that they're trying to develop a nuclear capability. And that's what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is, do not develop a nuclear weapon. That's a red line for us," Panetta said.

The US is leading the international community in imposing sanctions on Iran. Panetta said no American option is off the table.

"Well, you don't take any option off the table. I think that's extremely important. Don't take any option off the table," he said.

"But the responsible thing to do right now is to keep putting diplomatic and economic pressure on them to force them to do the right thing and to make sure that they do not make the decision to proceed with the development of a nuclear weapon," Panetta said.

The series of tough sanctions against Iran is having an impact, he said.

"I think the international strategy here, and this really has been an international strategy, to apply sanctions, to apply diplomatic pressure on them, to try to convince Iran that if they want to do what's right, they need to join the international family of nations and act in a responsible way," he said.

"I think the pressure of the sanctions; I think the pressure of diplomatic pressures from everywhere -- Europe, the United States, elsewhere -- is working to put pressure on them, to make them understand that they cannot continue to do what they're doing," Panetta said.