Negroponte says Iran cannot go unchallenged in Iraq

MILITARY OPTION?

His remarks on Iran come at a time when two U.S. aircraft carriers have been stationed in the Gulf as a warning to Iran. Tough talk from Bush and other U.S. officials has stirred speculation of a possible military strike.

"This committee's going to be paying attention, and we do not want to see precipitous actions that have not been thought through, have not been discussed, have not been authorized," Sen. Barack Obama, an Illinois Democrat, told Negroponte.

Biden accused Negroponte of offering misleading remarks when the nominee suggested U.S. and European officials were unified in opposing talks with Iran until Tehran suspends its nuclear enrichment program.

The West describes the program as an effort to develop nuclear arms, but Tehran insists it is aimed solely at electricity generation.

Negroponte said he believed Iraq could still emerge as a viable democracy, despite spiraling sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shi'ites.

"Failure in Iraq would be a disaster for Iraqis, for our friends in the region and for the United States," he said.

But repeatedly pressed on the possible advantage of engaging Iran and Syria to help stabilize Iraq, Negroponte reiterated the administration position that Iran must first suspend its nuclear program and Syria crack down on extremists entering the country.

"They know what they need to do," Negroponte said.