Rhodes: Syria's Assad "has to go"

With tensions running high in the Middle East, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Norah O'Donnell that the U.S. will continue to pressure the Syrian and Iranian governments.

Asked about the situation in Syria, Rhodes says the U.S. is ready to "work with every country that will join us" in pressuring Assad to step down, through increased sanctions, political support and humanitarian aid. The White House doesn't believe that military support "makes sense" right now, but Rhodes said Assad has "lost control of his country," and "he has to go." (watch the full interview in the player above)

Turning to Iran, Rhodes responds to claims by Iran's ambassador to Moscow that Iran is capable of carrying out military strikes on the U.S.

"The Iranians often bluster, often overstate their own capabilities," Rhodes said.

He also expresses confidence in the United States' ability to monitor nuclear activity in Iran, noting that "if Iran were to try to break out and take their nuclear materials and build a weapon, we would see that." Rhodes believes there is "time and space right now" for diplomacy "rooted in the strong pressure that we put on the Iranian government."

Note: Ben Rhodes is the brother of CBS News President David Rhodes.

FACE to FACE is the midweek web show for CBS News' FACE the NATION with Bob Schieffer. Each Wednesday, Schieffer sits down with a newsmaker to talk about the news driving the week, and the interview is featured at cbsnews.com/facethenation. This week, CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Norah O'Donnell substituted for Bob Schieffer.

[sirmarion-2009]

Where is the outrgae from other Arab countries? Let them step up and do something. Just look how the Muslim brotherhood has helped in Egypt,Helped who???? After Obama and Hillary praised them.Now we have 19 civilians on trail over there just because they were there.

[ahrats]

Sanctions will not stop the killing of the Syrian civilians by their own government. Assad and his cronies will not step down unless they are defeated like the Libians did and that took help from the rest of the world to do it. Iran is building nuclear weapons and I guess when they blow one off in the U.S. maybe we will do something just like 911.

[lucifersshadow]

This is not the White House's business, this is the UN's business. We need to stop meddling. By the way, a CBS article several months ago detailed how the US was involved in the instigation of this rebellion, and them the US wants to blame China and Russia for not doing anything to stop it? That is the height of arrogance.