The top military officer in the US, Admiral Mike Mullen, has commented that creating a new Middle Eastern conflict zone by launching military action against Iran would be “extremely stressful” for the US military.

Strike on Iran

The Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman’s comments were made in reference to the prospect of either the US or Israel striking Iran in connection with its nuclear activity.

Reports linking Israel to a potential attack on the country have served to stoke tensions.

Iranian Uranium Enrichment

Iran, meanwhile, continues to insist that its programme of uranium enrichment is wholly linked to peaceful energy production, as opposed to – as claimed – nuclear weapons.

Admiral Mullen’s statement was delivered at a media event hosted by the US Defense Department. Here, he refused to comment on any information given him by Israel as regards a possible Iranian strike.

Afghan, Iraqi Conflicts

He highlighted, however, how creating a third battle arena, alongside Afghanistan and Iraq, would be "extremely stressful, very challenging, with consequences that would be difficult to predict.”

Quizzed on whether he feared the prospect of Israel attacking Iran before 2009’s end, he replied: "This is a very unstable part of the world and I don't need it to be more unstable."

US Navy in Strait of Hormuz

He drew attention to how, if conflict did erupt in the area, Iran would be able to affect the flow of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, but did not elaborate on the prospect of the US Navy increasing its monitoring of this passage.

Diplomacy over Military Action

"I believe [Iran is] still on a path to get nuclear weapons and I think that's something that needs to be deterred", he said.

“My position with regard to the Iranian regime hasn't changed. They remain a destabilising factor in the region.

"But I'm convinced that the solution still lies in using other elements of national power to change Iranian behaviour, including diplomatic, financial and international pressure."

Mullen subsequently urged for discussions to take place between the US and Iran.

His comments followed those of George W. Bush who, speaking on Wednesday, highlighted how diplomacy would take presidence over military action.

Source – Armed Forces International’s US Correspondent

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