Kerry, in confirmation hearing, issues warning on Iran

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Kerry stressed the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons as he described the "immediate, dangerous challenges" that he will deal with if confirmed as the next secretary of state.

"The president has made it definitive -- we will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," the Massachusetts Democrat said in testimony Thursday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Our policy is not containment. It is prevention, and the clock is ticking on our efforts to secure responsible compliance."

Kerry, 69, appeared before the Senate committee he has headed as chairman since 2009. Republican colleagues predicted before the hearing that he would easily win Senate confirmation to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

He was introduced at the hearing by Clinton and Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Clinton described Kerry as the "right choice" for the job she is leaving after four years, and McCain offered support "without reservation" for his fellow Vietnam War veteran.

During a largely friendly four-hour hearing, Kerry was asked about the challenges that are likely to consume much of his tenure should he be confirmed. The committee hasn't announced the date for a vote on his nomination, which, if approved, would advance to the full Senate for confirmation.

With Israel's elections giving centrists a boost, Kerry told Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) that his "prayer is that this could be a moment" when it's possible to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.

Kerry said the legitimacy of Afghan elections early next year will be crucial to U.S. plans to pull most troops out of the country next year.

"If it doesn't have legitimacy, if we don't succeed in that effort, it's going to be very, very difficult to convince the American people" and U.S. allies to stay engaged, Kerry said.

Kerry had met in the past with Syrian President Bashar Assad in an effort to encourage an opening by the Syrian regime toward the West. Now, Kerry said, Assad has made "reprehensible" decisions, and he predicted Assad is "not long for remaining" as Syria's leader.

Kerry said relations with Russia have "slid backwards a little bit in the last couple of years," citing the halt to U.S. adoptions of Russian orphans as one example. Still, he said, Russia is cooperating on a number of issues, such as Iran and nuclear arms reductions.