Eyewitness NewsWASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Iran is laying the groundwork for making nuclear weapons someday, but isn't yet building a bomb.
He says more diplomatic and economic pressure is needed to persuade Tehran not to take that step.
In an interview for the CBS program "Face the Nation," Panetta did not rule out launching a pre-emptive strike. He said if Iran started developing a weapon, the U.S. would act.
But he says "the responsible thing to do right now is to keep putting diplomatic and economic pressure on them to force them to do the right thing."Several Republican candidates have called for a tougher line against Iran, saying they believe it is committed to building the bomb.
Panetta did say that if Iran makes good on a threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, it would be met with a U.S. military response.
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