Politics

Former Obama Defense Secretary: ‘The Iranians Can’t Be Trusted’ [VIDEO]

Alex Griswold Media Reporter
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Former Obama Defense Secretary and CIA chief Leon Panetta cautioned on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” that when it comes to reaching a nuclear deal, “the Iranians can’t be trusted.” (VIDEO: Former Obama Intel Chief: John Kerry Is ‘Out Of Touch With Reality’)

PANETTA: Well, you know, one thing I’ve learned both at the CIA and as secretary of defense is that the Iranians can’t be trusted. It’s for that reason that we have to make sure that we’ve taken strong steps to be able to make sure that they are not trying to do something in secret.

So, my concern obviously is that the more they maintain of their nuclear infrastructure in terms of centrifuges, the more they are allowed to maintain Fordow, which is this hidden facility in which they were trying to do enriched fuel, the more temporary the agreement is, those are issues that obviously raise concerns.

I’m willing to let them continue these negotiations. I think it’s important to do. I think it obviously is worth the effort. But I think the real test is going to be, and the whole world will be looking at it — the test will be have we truly made sure that Iran can be stopped from developing a nuclear weapon. And to do that in my book demands transparency and it demands accessibility so that we have a firm inspection regime that will guarantee they cannot do this.

It’s worth noting that while Panetta warns about the Iranians being allowed to maintain nuclear centrifuges, the Associated Press reports that the Obama administration is seriously considering allowing Iran to run nuclear centrifuges in an underground bunker.

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