WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, on Friday said he was “increasingly concerned” about Tehran’s activity in the region but ruled out a conflict with Iran “in a near future”. 

“I am increasingly concerned about Iran’s acitvity not just in Iraq but throughout the region,” Mullen told a press conference.

But he added “I have no expectation we are going to get into a conflict with Iran in a near future.”

He also said it was necessary to keep up the pressure on Tehran on “economic, financial, international, diplomatic” fronts.