Petraeus says Iran’s nuclear efforts delayed ‘a bit,’ obtaining weapon won’t happen this year

Petraeus says Iran nuke won’t happen this year

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. commander in the Middle East says Iran’s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon have been delayed “a bit” and that Iran won’t get a nuclear weapon this year.

Gen. David Petraeus (peh-TRAY’-us) told a Senate panel on Tuesday that international pressure on Tehran to abandon its nuclear program should continue.

Petraeus says that a precise assessment of Iran’s nuclear capabilities is classified. But the general says Iran’s ability to obtain a bomb has, as he puts it, “thankfully slid to the right a bit.”

Iran has long claimed that its nuclear program is aimed at peaceful uses of nuclear power.