Reuters in exclusive interview with U.S. general

At a time when critics are questioning the value of diplomacy and sanctions on Iran, U.S. General David Petraeus warned in an interview with Reuters on Feb 3 that a third alternative — a military strike — could backfire by stirring nationalism and benefiting a hardline Iranian government grappling with internal protests. Petraeus played down the urgency of the Iranian threat, saying Tehran`s nuclear program had generally lagged expectations. The interview was widely cited by competitors. Responsible for an area that includes both Iran and Afghanistan, Petraeus turned heads at the Pentagon, in Pakistan and beyond by disclosing in the same interview that he supported Pakistan’s efforts to reach out to Afghan militants to encourage reconciliation although he was skeptical those efforts would bear fruit soon. The interview came amid intense debate globally about the limits and merits of talking to the Afghan Taliban and as the United States poured 30,000 additional troops into Afghanistan to push them out of population centers.