Military option to deal with Iran is nearer: Israel's Peres
JERUSALEM |
(Reuters) - President Shimon Peres added to a debate raging in Israel over whether to attack Iran, when he said on Friday that a military option to stop the Islamic republic from obtaining nuclear weapons was nearer.
Asked by Channel Two News if "something was bringing us closer to a military option rather than a diplomatic one," Peres said: "I believe so, I estimate that intelligence services of all these countries are looking at the ticking clock, warning leaders that there is not much time left.
"Iran is nearing atomic weapons and in the time left we must turn to the world's nations and demand (they) fulfill their promise ... which is not merely passing sanctions. What needs to be done must be done and there is a long list of options."
Israeli media has been rife with speculation this week that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to secure cabinet consensus for an attack on Iranian nuclear installations.
Western powers, including Israel, suspect Tehran of developing nuclear weapons -- something Iran denies -- and have imposed sanctions in an attempt to curb its program.
Iran, which opposes Israel's existence, says it is enriching uranium only to power reactors for electricity generation.
Though no direct threats of military action on Iran have been made by Netanyahu, both Israel and the United States have repeatedly hinted at possible use of force, saying all options were on the table.
(Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Louise Ireland)
November 5, 2011 2:53 pm
Iran has nuclear explosive testing facility
A report by the UN nuclear watchdog next week will support allegations that Iran has built a nuclear weapons testing facility, Reuters reported on Saturday.
In its report, Reuters cites sources stating that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has obtained satellite pictures of a large steel container for carrying out tests with high explosives that could be used in nuclear weapons. The images of the site at Parchin, near Tehran, and other evidence lend credence to allegations by IAEA member states that the installation was intended for nuclear-related explosives testing.
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According to the sources that briefed Reuters, the IAEA will also reveal evidence next week that Iran has carried out computer modelling of a nuclear weapon.
Western diplomats contacted by the FT on Saturday said that they would make no comment on the Reuters report.
In recent days, western diplomats have said thekeenly awaited report will strengthen suspicions that Tehran is seeking to develop a capability to make atomic bombs.
However, the IAEA is expected to stop short of saying explicitly that Iran is definitely doing so.
It was unclear when the container at Parchin was built or whether it was actually used for nuclear-related work.
Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment.
Suspicions of nuclear arms work at the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran date back at least to 2004 when a prominent nuclear expert said satellite images showed it could be a site for research, testing and production of nuclear weapons.
Iran, which says its nuclear programme is peaceful, has previously denied the allegations. In 2005, Iran allowed U, nuclear inspectors to visit Parchin.
The IAEA in May listed seven areas of concern regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme, including high explosives manufacture and testing and the development, manufacture and testing of explosive components.
One of the main hurdles in making an atomic bomb is designing a ring of conventional explosives to compress atomic material in the warhead core, igniting a nuclear chain reaction. Experiments have to be carried out to test the impact of explosions on bomb components.
The IAEA report is expected to include other evidence of research and other activities that make little sense if not weapons-related, Western diplomats have said.
Western powers believe Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran denies this, saying it is enriching uranium only to power reactors for electricity generation.
Any evidence of nuclear weapons activities would strengthen calls for further sanctions against Iran.
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