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With a report on Iran from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog impending, Israeli President Shimon Peres told an Israeli newspaper that the Iranians are getting closer to a nuclear weapon. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom last Friday, Peres said, “Iran is getting closer to a nuclear bomb. It will probably happen within one year.”
Peres, the largely symbolic president of Israel and a longtime politician, said the international community should intervene. He said the world should “fulfill their promise” on dealing with Iran, which goes beyond “merely passing sanctions.”
Peres noted that Iran is a threat to more than just Israel. It is believed that Iran has missile capabilities that reach past Tel Aviv.
Peres told Israel Hayom that he believes that a military strike on Iran’s nuclear program is “is growing more likely than the diplomatic option.” Despite that, Peres did say there are many options for dealing with Iran. He also said he did not think that Israel had yet decided on whether or not to strike Iran.
The comments come after various news reports regarding preparations or considerations of a military strike on Iran by Israel and even Britain. A UK action would come as part of a hypothetical United States attack. Following those reports, comments were made by the US that emphasized they were focused on diplomatic steps.
Other media reports in The New York Times and Haaretz said the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expected to release a report saying the Iranians are at least suspected of having done some nuclear weapons-related research. However, a news analysis article in The New York Times said that the Iranians have not allowed inspectors to enter the military base in question for seven years, with questions still remaining as to how much firm evidence is known at this point.
(By Staff, www.themideastupdate.com, November 6, 2011)