An Iraqi Muslim cleric who leads a major Shiite militia pledged to come to the defense of neighboring Iran if it were attacked, aides to the cleric, Moqtada Sadr, said Monday. The commitment, made Sunday in Tehran during a visit by Sadr, came in response to a senior Iranian official’s query about what the cleric would do in the event of an attack on Iran. It marked the first open indication that Iraq’s Shiite neighbor is preparing for a military response if attacked in a showdown with the West over its nuclear program. Full Story