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US, Iran 'not on brink of war'
10/07/2008 07:31 - (SA)
Washington - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Wednesday the United States and Iran were not close to a military confrontation, and understood the consequences of any kind of conflict.
Gates comments came on a day in which Iran test-fired a medium range missile that it said could reach Israel, and followed an Iranian warning on Tuesday that any US attack would be met with a "crushing response".
Asked if the two countries were closer to a military confrontation in light of the escalating rhetoric, Gates said, "No I don't think so."
"The reality is there is a lot of signalling going on, but everybody recognises what the consequences of any kind of a conflict would be," he said.
"And I would tell you that this government is working hard to make sure the diplomatic and economic approach to dealing with Iran and trying to get the Iranian government to change its policy is the strategy and is the approach that continues to dominate," he said.
"At this point, I'm comfortable that that remains the case," he said.
- AFP
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