US Defense Chief: ‘Arab Spring’ to Sweep Iran

It is only a matter of time before the Arab Spring uprising reaches Iran and overthrows the regime, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The former Central IntelligenceAgency (CIA) director said that the reform movement in the Islamic Republic is learning from the mass demonstrations and protests in Egypt, Syria, Libya and Tunisia, where all of the regimes' leaders have been ousted or are facing the danger of losing power.

Asked by television interviewer Charlie Rose if the Arab Spring movement would reach Iran, Panetta replied, "Absolutely. I think we saw 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."

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