The pace of Iran”s nuclear weapons development appears to have slowed, buying time for a new round of sanctions now and possibly more sweeping measures further down the road, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
Comments by U.S. General David Petraeus and senior government officials underscored the Obama administration”s message to Israel and Gulf allies — that there is time to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program by imposing more economic sanctions without resorting to force.
Obama”s top military advisers — Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — have made public their growing doubts about military action, warning Israel that an attack could have unintended consequences and merely set back Iran”s program temporarily.
