Panetta: US is 'fully prepared' for an Iran challenge

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the U.S. military is taking no special steps to prepare for a potential crisis with Iran in the Persian Gulf because it's already set to deal with any such problem.

In remarks today to reporters at the Pentagon, Panetta said the U.S. has sufficient naval and other military forces in the Gulf area to deal with Iran. Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf.

The U.S. recently added a second aircraft carrier battle group to the region, in line with a normal rotation of carriers.