BICOM

Miscalculations by Iran may cause a prolonged conflict, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey said in an interview with CNN yesterday. ”My biggest worry is they will miscalculate our resolve,” Dempsey said. “Any miscalculation could mean that we are drawn into conflict, and that would be a tragedy for the region and the world.” Dempsey warned that Iran is playing a dangerous game that could entangle the Middle East, the US and others into a conflict and a nuclear arms race. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he had received comments of concern over Iran’s ambitions from countries he was visiting across the Middle East.

Behind the scenes Dempsey, the highest-ranking officer in the US military, is believed to be leading US military planning for an attack against Iran’s nuclear programme, in the event the president gives the order. “I am satisfied that the options that we are developing are evolving to a point that they would be executable if necessary,” he said.

On the question of an Israeli strike, Dempsey said there is no guarantee that Israel will give the United States warning, but that America is sharing intelligence with Israel. “We are trying to establish some confidence on the part of the Israelis that we recognise their concerns and are collaborating with them on addressing them,” he said.

Dempsey’s interview comes a day after Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta declared that Iran is capable of developing a nuclear weapon within a year, and that the US would take whatever steps necessary to prevent Iran getting a nuclear bomb.