Sen. Lieberman says force may be needed in Iran

AP: U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman says there is a broad consensus in Congress that military force can be used if necessary to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman says there is a broad consensus in Congress that military force can be used if necessary to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Lieberman cites a recent set of sanctions passed by Congress against Iran as a potential deterrent. But he insists that the goal of keeping Iran from becoming a nuclear power will be accomplished “through diplomatic and economic sanctions if we possibly can, through military actions if we must.”

The Connecticut senator spoke Wednesday in Jerusalem, where he was visiting with fellow senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Israel, the U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of trying to develop an atomic weapon. Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian use.