Gates said that Iran must not reject the U.S. offer of talks or otherwise tougher sanctions would follow and such measures would come with full force.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak also used the occasion to express his aggressive posture hinting a military action against Iran.
U.S. officials are wary of Israeli public opinion about taking softer stance on the Iranian nuclear program. The Israeli hardliners are afraid the U.S. government is going to accept a nuclear Iran and regard this an end in their so-called western supremacy spearheaded by the Israeli aggressive designs in the region.
Despite recent hooplas over Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program by U.S. officials, the new head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amono said,'...there is no evidence Iran is even working on such weapons.'
Source: Agencies
