Pressenza Pressenza International Press Agency Teherán, 26/07/10 Michael Hayden: "It seems inexorable, doesn’t it? We engage, they continue to move forward. We vote for sanctions, they continue to move forward. We try to deter, to dissuade, they continue to move forward. My personal view is that Iran, left to its own devices, will get itself to that step right below a nuclear weapon, that permanent breakout stage, so the needle isn’t quite in the red for the international community. And, frankly, that will be as destabilizing as their actually having a weapon."

Michael Hayden’s comments come as a group of Republican lawmakers are pushing for passage of a resolution that explicitly supports the right of Israel to use military force against Iran. Forty-seven House Republicans have already signed on to the legislation.