TEL AVIV, Israel - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday that diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff with Iran over its nuclear program are working and should get a chance to succeed.
Both the U.S. and Israel accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies. Gates said many nations are "united in telling Iran what it needs to do with respect to its nuclear program."
The United States and its allies have led efforts to pass two U.N. Security Council resolutions punishing Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. That process can be used to develop nuclear weapons.
"We agreed it was important to deal with the Iranian nuclear problem through diplomacy, which appears to be working," Gates said at a news conference with Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
"These things don't work overnight, but it seems to me clearly the preferable course to keep our focus on the diplomatic initiatives, and particularly because of the united front of the international community at this point," Gates said.
His words appeared aimed at diffusing suggestions in Israel and the U.S. that the Pentagon is moving toward a strike against Iran.....
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