Marine General Tells Congress Iran Is 'Destabilizing Force'

Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, who has been nominated to head U.S. Central Command, said Tuesday that Iran is the greatest destabilizing force in that region, United Press International reports.

Tehran's nuclear ambitions make it a long-term threat in the region, Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Consistency is needed in fighting Al-Qaida and other extremist groups throughout the Central Command region, he emphasized.