<p>The nominee to be the next chief of the US military pledged to guide the armed forces through a new era while sending a tough warning to Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons or sponsor attacks in Iraq.</p>
<p>At his confirmation hearing, General Martin Dempsey pledged to guide the world's most powerful military through a new era of tighter budgets and challenges such as cyber war. He promised to carry out orders for a drawdown in Afghanistan and to keep up pressure on Pakistan to fight Islamic militants.</p>