WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that a military strike on Iran’s nuclear program would not stop the country from pursuing its nuclear program.

Gates told a Senate panel that a military option would only delay Iran’s nuclear ambitions and would further drive it underground, making it more difficult to monitor.
The U.S. and a few of its European allies have been pressing Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities. However, Iran as a country that has signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), insists that its nuclear activities are solely aimed at producing electricity to meet the nation’s growing demand.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is monitoring all the processes of nuclear activities in Iran by installing cameras and making regular inspections.
Gates said the better option would be for the U.S. and its allies to convince Iran that building a nuclear program would start an arms race that would leave Iran less secure.
“Their security interests are actually badly served by trying to have nuclear weapons,” Gates said. “They will start a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and they will be less secure at the end than they are now.”
Gates was joined by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee Thursday to discuss the 2009 supplemental budget request.
Clinton and Gates told the panel that the U.S. and its allies should pressure Iran with tougher sanctions.
“We do have intensive consultation efforts going on with our friends and like-minded nations, not only in the region but elsewhere in the world, concerning the threats that Iran poses,” Clinton said.
Gates said the U.S. should partner with Russia on missile defense programs in the region to isolate Iran, an issue that has soured relations with Russia recently.
“I think there is value in pursuing a partnership with the Russians on missile defense in Europe and in Russia itself,” Gates continued, but did not elaborate.