Washington: US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that a nuclear-capable Iran represents a threat to the United States and the world.
"We see the threats coming from Iran and a nuclear- capable Iran represents a threat to us and to the world," Panetta told reporters at a Pentagon news conference when asked about the threats to the US this year.
"The weapons of mass destruction and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are a concern. North Korea is a concern because they too are developing a nuclear capability," he said.
"Add to that the turmoil in the Middle East that we have to confront. Add to that the whole cyber threat and the potential for cyber warfare. You can see the vast array of threats that we have to confront with the force that we've designed here. So it's all of those that are my concern for the future," Panetta said.
Western powers, including the US, say Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at weapons development, a charge Tehran denies.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday said his country is willing to revive talks on its nuclear programme and accused Western countries of dodging discussions.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 27, 2012, 12:24