Gen. Hayden: Iran 'Far Too Close to Nuclear Weapon'

With few good choices in dealing with Iran's push for nuclear weapons, former CIA and NSA Director Gen. Michael Hayden said he's OK with letting the six-month temporary deal with the country go forward.

But we should be truthful, Hayden told "Fox News Sunday." "We have accepted Iranian uranium enrichment."

The "red line" with Iran has clearly changed, Hayden told host Chris Wallace.

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"Right now, the Iranians are far too close to a nuclear weapon," he said. "We have hit the pause button. Now we've got to negotiate hitting the delete button with them."

At the end of the day, Hayden said, "Iran's going to be a nuclear threshold state."

The deal allows Iran to have uranium enriched to 5 percent. Previous U.N. resolutions have called for a complete dismantling of its nuclear program and that all materials be shipped out of the country.

Turning to NSA leaker Edward Snowden, Hayden said he has no reason to doubt reports that Snowden has a doomsday cache that will be unleashed if he is caught or punished for leaking American secrets.

"This is catastrophic for the safety and the security of the American nation," Hayden said. Still, he doesn't think the U.S. government should back away from pursuing Snowden.

To do so, he said, would be like "negotiating with terrorists."