Fox News TV aired an exclusive interview with US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta asking will the US continue its reconnaissance and espionage operations in Iran following the crash of its spy plane.
Without a doubt was the response of the US defense chief to this question.
Fox News continued by saying the base which US recon planes are controlled from for spying over Iran are in Afghanistan. However, Panetta has said the Afghan president has not asked the US to stop these operations.
Panetta went on to express his opposition to Nouri Maliki’s remarks during his press conference with US President Barack Obama where he claimed the Iranian regime’s interferences in Iraq will disappear following the US forces’ departure.
We must be very careful about the Iranian regime, Panetta said, adding he expects this regime to interfere in Iraq’s affairs through any means possible. The US defense chief said this country will maintain around 40,000 troops in various Persian Gulf countries to defy the Iranian regime threats. Panetta also emphasized the US military will not allow the Lebanese prisoner who has contacts with the Iranian regime – and murdered 5 American soldiers – to be freed after US forces’ departure from Iraq. Panetta emphasized either the US will prosecute him, or Iraq will bring him to justice.