The statement was a shift from Romney’s previous comments that appeared to emphasize military action.
Romney told reporters: “I do not believe that in the final analysis we will have to use military action.”
The statement came after a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu on Friday about Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations in which Netanyahu urged the international community to adopt a “red line” that Iran should not cross.
As the Romney campaign sought to differentiate its foreign policy from President Obama’s, Romney also said that Iranian President Ahmadi-nejad should be indicted for incitement to genocide under the Geneva Conventions, that Iranian diplomats should be isolated as “pariahs,” and that covert action should be conducted in Iran.
Republican Senator Richard Lugar expressed concern over the use of force with Iran and affirmed that Obama’s use of sanctions was the appropriate course. He refuted Romney’s claim that Obama has not been firm enough on Iran and failed to adequately support Israel’s security and pointed out that military action against Iran would have devastating effects for both Israel and the United States.