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U.S. Defense Secretary: Iranians Can Assemble Bomb in a Year or Less

(CBS News) Scott Pelley - U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Monday that despite the efforts to disrupt the Iranian nuclear program, the Iranians have reached a point where they can assemble a bomb in a year or potentially less. CBS: So are you saying that Iran can have a nuclear weapon in 2012? Panetta: It would probably be about a year before they can do it. Perhaps a little less. But one proviso, Scott, is if they have a hidden facility somewhere in Iran that may be enriching fuel. CBS: So that they can develop a weapon even more quickly... Panetta: On a faster track... CBS: Than we believe... Panetta: That's correct. "The United States does not want Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. That's a red line for us and that's a red line, obviously, for the Israelis. If we have to do it we will deal with it," Panetta added. "If they proceed and we get intelligence that they are proceeding with developing a nuclear weapon then we will take whatever steps necessary to stop it."
2011-12-20 00:00:00
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