Israel: When we say attack, we mean it Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:30:56 GMT
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Israel is determined to use 'any option' to stop Iran's nuclear program should sanctions fail.
In a Wednesday interview with Al Jazeera television, Barak said while there is still time for diplomatic measures against Iran's nuclear program, other countries should not remove 'any option' from the table, an allusion to the military option.
Tel Aviv and Washington accuse Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of making efforts to develop nuclear arms, and under such pretext have threatened to launch air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
This is while the UN body responsible for monitoring Iranian nuclear activities has confirmed that Tehran's uranium enrichment is far below the level required for nuclear arms production.
"The time is still for diplomacy and sanctions, but much more effective sanctions. We keep saying that we do not remove any option from the table. I propose to others not to remove any option from the table as well. But when we say it, we mean it," Barak said.
According to Pentagon officials, Israel conducted a military maneuver over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in early June in preparation for a war on Iran.
Over 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 jets took part in the exercise, which spanned nearly 900 miles, roughly the distance between their airfields and Iran's nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz.
In reaction to Israeli threats, Iran has recently revamped its fighter jets to fly distances of 3,000 kilometers without refueling, which would allow them to fly to Israel and back.
www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=68385§ionid=351020104