Admiral William Fallon, the top US military commander for the Middle East, has resigned from his post amid reports he disagreed with the US president, George Bush, over his policies towards Iran.

Robert Gates, the US defense secretary, said Fallon had asked for permission to retire and he had agreed.

An article in Esquire magazine last week said Admiral Fallon was opposed to the US taking military action against Iran over its nuclear program.

Fallon, who became head of US Central Command in March 2007, was previously head of US Pacific command.

"The current embarrassing situation and public perception of differences between my views and administration policy ... make this the right thing to do," Gates quoted Fallon as saying in his resignation letter.

Gates told a news conference that he approved Admiral Fallon's request to retire "reluctance and regret".

 PHOTO CAPTION

Adm. William Fallon, the commander of U.S. Forces in the Middle East

 Al-Jazeera