US defence chief says Iran enriching uranium but no decision yet on a nuclear weapon The USA Times

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Friday, May 25, 2012

US defence chief says Iran enriching uranium but no decision yet on a nuclear weapon

(AP Photo/Iranian Presidents office, File)

WASHINGTON - Defence Secretary Leon Panetta says intelligence shows Iran is continuing to enrich uranium but Tehran has not made a decision to proceed with developing a nuclear weapon.

Panetta told a House panel Thursday that the United States will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon or close the Gulf's Strait of Hormuz. He said economic and diplomatic sanctions have taken a toll on the regime.

The former CIA director said the United States is open to negotiations to find a diplomatic solution but the U.S. keeps all options on the table.

Panetta made the comments a day after Iran claimed two major advances in producing nuclear fuel and signalled it was on the verge of imposing an oil embargo on European countries to retaliate for sanctions.