Jan. 11. NYT Adversaries of Iran Said to Be Stepping Up Covert Actions

For the third time. From Nov 17: Pat Lang

"... An Iran specialist, with whom I spoke recently, posed a challenging question: At what point are the Iranians forced to take action against this clandestine war? There have been bombings, kidnappings and assassinations on the streets of Tehran that have been impossible to conceal from the Iranian population. Is this going to prove to be a war delay/war avoidance strategy, or a provocation that leads Iran to retaliate and provide Israel or others with the pretext for general war? This question is yet to be answered. So far, the Iranians have been restrained, choosing not to even retaliate with a low-level attack on Israeli or American targets outside of the region..."

BBC Iran and the undeclared campaign

Panetta

To make them understand that they cannot continue to do what they’re doing. Are they trying to develop a nuclear weapon? No. But we know that they’re trying to develop a nuclear capability, and that’s what concerns us. And our red line to Iran is, do not develop a nuclear weapon. That’s a red line for us.

2009. Context

Helen Thomas:"...do you know of any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons?"
Obama: "I don't want to speculate..."