“I share Mitt Romney’s view that we can’t allow, and shouldn’t allow, Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty tells Newsmax.
The United States has moved military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to discourage Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz and to prepare for a possible military strike on Iran over its nuclear program.
In a Newsmax.TV interview, Pawlenty — considered a front-runner for the role of Romney’s vice presidential running mate, was asked if he believes an American strike on Iran is inevitable.
“We want to leave all options on the table, including the military option and including a military strike if need be, if it comes to that,” he responded.
“In the meantime, we want to have punishing sanctions of the highest and most excruciating level on Iran as possible. We want to exhaust every possible realistic option to try to get them to stand down and change direction.
“But we should absolutely leave the military option on the table, and do it in a timely manner if that becomes necessary.”
See the excerpt of Tim Pawlenty's interview:
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