"We obviously always continue to make preparations for any contingency, but we are not making any special steps... because we’re fully prepared to deal with that situation now"

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday that the United States is “fully prepared” for any confrontation with Iran over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but hopes a dispute would be resolved peacefully.

"We obviously always continue to make preparations for any contingency, but we are not making any special steps... because we're fully prepared to deal with that situation now," Panetta told reporters.

"We have always maintained a very strong presence in that region. We have a Navy fleet located there," Panetta said. "We have a military presence in that region... to make very clear that we were going to do everything possible to help secure the peace in that part of the world."

The defense chief said Washington has been clear on its effort to “prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and from closing the Strait of Hormuz.”

"Our goal has always been to make very clear that we would hope that any differences that we have, any concerns we have can be peacefully resolved and done through international laws and international rules," he said. "We abide by those international laws and international rules. We would hope that Iran would do the same."

Concerning Washington’s letter sent days ago to Iran, Panetta said "we have channels in which we deal with the Iranians, and we continue to use those channels."

Barak wanted US-Israeli drills postponed

On the joint US-Israeli maneuvers, Panetta said the postponement of joint military exercises with the Zionist enemy came at the request of his Israeli counterpart, Ehud Barak. "We looked at it and determined that in order to be able to plan better and to do this so that we would be able to conduct that exercise that it would be better to postpone."

Israeli officials said Monday the postponement was because of regional tensions and instability, and that the drill will probably take place in the second half of 2012 an action that provides a solid proof that it’s not prepared for any military action in the Middle East.