Former US generals reject attack on Iran

London: Three former high-ranking US military officers refuse to support an attack on Tehran, saying that military action against Iran would be a disaster for the region.

In a letter to the Sunday Times newspaper, the three former officers urged US President George W. Bush to open talks with the Iranian government “without preconditions''.

Retired Lt. Gen. Robert G. Gard, retired Marine Gen. Joseph P. Hoar and Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan urged Britain to help defuse the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.

They said an attack "would have disastrous consequences for security in the region, coalition forces in Iraq and would further exacerbate regional and global tensions."

"The current crisis must be resolved through diplomacy," they said.

Blair's office refused to comment on whether Blair would back military intervention and reiterated the prime minister's support for the UN's response.

The US government has refused to rule out military action if Iran does not halt its nuclear activities, and has beefed up the US military presence in the Gulf.