1.27.2005
Iran Nears Nuclear 'Point of No Return' (Guardian.co.uk)
Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor
Thursday January 27, 2005
The Guardian
The Israeli defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, warned yesterday that Iran will reach "the point of no return" within the next 12 months in its covert attempt to secure a nuclear weapons capability.
Tehran denies pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.
Speaking in London before a meeting today with Tony Blair, Lieutenant General Mofaz said Iran was the main long-term threat to the world and stressed that it will not be permitted to build a nuclear bomb. "None of the western countries can live with Iran having a nuclear capability," he told reporters.
Gen Mofaz, a hawk in the Israeli cabinet, who has said in the past that Israel has operational plans in place for a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, refused to rule out military action.
Mr Blair, speaking in the Commons yesterday, said the Iranian issue was serious. Asked by the former Labour minister, Michael Meacher, to give an "unequivocal and categorical assurance" that Britain would not take part in any attack on Iran, Mr Blair said: "I know of no such contemplation by the United States of America."
In an interview with the Financial Times yesterday, Mr Blair refused to rule out the option of using military force.
With the US bogged down in the Iraq conflict, opening another front in Iran would be risky. Iran's Shebab-3 rockets are theoretically capable of hitting Israel.
The Israeli and US rhetoric has grown more strident in the last week and could be aimed at pushing Britain, France and Germany into taking a tougher diplomatic approach towards Iran.
(More ... Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Iran nears nuclear 'point of no return') ¶ 22:43
Thursday January 27, 2005
The Guardian
The Israeli defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, warned yesterday that Iran will reach "the point of no return" within the next 12 months in its covert attempt to secure a nuclear weapons capability.
Tehran denies pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.
Speaking in London before a meeting today with Tony Blair, Lieutenant General Mofaz said Iran was the main long-term threat to the world and stressed that it will not be permitted to build a nuclear bomb. "None of the western countries can live with Iran having a nuclear capability," he told reporters.
Gen Mofaz, a hawk in the Israeli cabinet, who has said in the past that Israel has operational plans in place for a strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, refused to rule out military action.
Mr Blair, speaking in the Commons yesterday, said the Iranian issue was serious. Asked by the former Labour minister, Michael Meacher, to give an "unequivocal and categorical assurance" that Britain would not take part in any attack on Iran, Mr Blair said: "I know of no such contemplation by the United States of America."
In an interview with the Financial Times yesterday, Mr Blair refused to rule out the option of using military force.
With the US bogged down in the Iraq conflict, opening another front in Iran would be risky. Iran's Shebab-3 rockets are theoretically capable of hitting Israel.
The Israeli and US rhetoric has grown more strident in the last week and could be aimed at pushing Britain, France and Germany into taking a tougher diplomatic approach towards Iran.
(More ... Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Iran nears nuclear 'point of no return') ¶ 22:43
