Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has downplayed reports that Israel is moving closer to taking military action over Iran's nuclear program He told reporters, "I don't believe they've made a decision as to whether or not they will go in and attack."
Both Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's ambassador to the US have recently said that time was running out, but Panetta said the US thought there was still room for talks with Iran. Panetta said, "The additional sanctions have been put in place. They're beginning to have an additional impact on top of the other sanctions."
Panetta took issue with televised remarks on Monday made by Israeli envoy Michael Oren in which he said that the window of time before the need to resort to military action was "small and... getting smaller".
Panetta said, "From our point of view the window is still open." |