Former CIA head calls for US policy review

The former head of the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States, John Deutsch, has described Washington's policy towards Iran as a failure and called for it to be reviewed.

Speaking at a seminar in Tel Aviv, Mr Deutsch said American policy on Iran and Iraq -- known as double containment --failed in part because of a lack of support by some of its allies, especially Russia.

Correspondents say the debate within the United States about its stance towards Tehran has intensified since the election of President Khatami earlier this year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service