The revelation comes in the wake of the uproar over Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email account while serving as secretary of state. That case became a Republican talking point as the former chief US diplomat seeks the Democratic nomination for president in the 2016 election.

Speaking to CBS News while on a visit to Iraq, Carter said he had used his iPhone to send administrative messages, none of which contained classified information, to his immediate staff.

“Even that, I shouldn’t have been doing and when I realized that, I stopped,” he said.

“I have to hold myself to absolutely strict standards in terms of cyber security and doing things that are appropriate. I didn’t in this case. It’s a mistake and it’s entirely my own.”

The flap was first reported Wednesday by The New York Times, which quoted an administration official as saying White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough had had the Pentagon explain why Carter was relying on his personal email account.

Carter — reputed in the Pentagon to have an unwavering attention to detail and by-the-book approach — has been in the post since February and is President Barack Obama’s fourth defense chief.

His use of private email likely violated a 2012 Defense Department ban on employees using non-government accounts for government business; AFP reported.

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