Mr Panetta said the Iranian reform movement was learning from revolts which have erupted across the Arab world this year.
Mr Panetta, who left the top job in the CIA to become defence secretary in July, said there was “absolutely” the chance that protests and demands for reform would reach Iran.
He said: “I think we saw in evidence of that in the last election in Iran that there was a movement within Iran that raised those very same concerns that we’re seeing elsewhere,” “And I think in many ways, it’s a matter of time before that kind of change and reform and revolution occurs in Iran as well.” Tehran crushed mass street protests in the wake of Iran’s disputed June 2009 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Panetta said reformers in Iran should be supported, but warned: “At the same time, we’ve got to analyse each situation to make sure that we do nothing that creates a backlash or that undermines those efforts.” Tehran has welcomed the Arab Spring of uprisings, voicing hope it would see the end of US-backed regimes in the region.
It has warned Nato and America not to interfere in the movements, saying both risked a quagmire if they became involved.
