Military force an option against Iran: Panetta

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is warning that Iran must either negotiate acceptable limits on its nuclear programme or face the possibility of U.S. military action to stop it from getting the bomb.

Mr. Panetta made his remarks outside Ashkelon in southern Israel, with an “Iron Dome” anti-rocket defence system as a backdrop.

Mr. Panetta said repeatedly that “all options,” including military force, are on the table to stop Iran, should sanctions and diplomacy the preferred means of persuasion ultimately fail.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, standing beside Mr. Panetta, said he sees an “extremely low” probability that sanctions will ever compel Iran to give up its nuclear activities.