Incoming US President Barack Obama will likely face a "serious
crisis" over Iran's nuclear ambitions in his first
year in office, former US defense secretary William Perry
predicted here Thursday.
Perry, speaking at a forum offering advice to the new administration,
also said both Iran and North Korea must be contained to
avoid a "cascade of nuclear proliferation" in
the Middle East and northeast Asia.
Iran, in particular, presents not only a direct threat
to Israel but the world at large through the spread of nuclear
technology to terrorist groups, he told the forum sponsored
by the United States Institute of Peace.
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Perry said North Korea's production of plutonium and nuclear
test in 2006 amounted to the "most dangerous development"
since the Cold War ended nearly two decades ago, but he
believed it could be contained through diplomacy.
But he said he was "less confident" about diplomatic
efforts involving the United States -- under the outgoing
administration of President George W. Bush -- European countries,
Russia and China.
The talks "are going nowhere," said Perry, who
was defense secretary under President Bill Clinton.
