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Israel may strike Iranian nuclear installations if talks fail

Chris McGreal

Tel Aviv hints at March deadline for Teheran to fall in line

— PHOTO: AP

UNDERCOVER: A satellite image released by Digital Globe and annotated by the Institute for Science and International Security, U.S., shows the Uranium Conversion Facility at Isfahan, Iran, with tunnel entrances to the north of the facility in this file photo. Iran may be placing its nuclear sites inside special tunnels because of fears of attack.

Jerusalem: Israel has drawn up plans for strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities with bunker busting bombs supplied by the U.S.

However, analysts say it has no immediate plans of carrying them through while diplomatic pressure is growing on Teheran.

Israel regards Teheran as the single greatest threat, a view sharpened by the Iranian President's call for the destruction of the Jewish state and his denial of the Holocaust.

Last month, Benjamin Netanyahu, the former Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, said that if he wins the general election in March he would follow the example of former Prime Minister Menachem Begin who ordered the Israeli air force bombing of Iraq's nuclear plant in 1981. ``The Iranian threat is an existential one. In this regard I will continue the legacy of Menachem Begin, who thwarted Iran's neighbour, Iraq, from acquiring nuclear weapons by adopting bold and daring measures. I believe that is what Israel needs to do,'' he told Israel radio.

But the Government does recognise important political and military differences from the situation with Iraq 25 years ago.

The Israeli Government has been sceptical of European efforts to pressure Teheran over the past two years, saying a more robust approach led by the U.S. would be required.

``Israel was trying to sharpen the idea that if nothing happens by March we're really going to be a point of no return,'' said Emily Landau, director of the Jaffee Centre's arms control project in Tel Aviv. ``Its message was more to the international community than Iran that now the international community really has to get its act together.'' There are restraining factors on Israel, including an American desire to ensure the Iranians are not able to garner support by portraying pressure over the nuclear issue as a Zionist plot. The U.S. also controls air space that Israel would have to fly over to reach Iran. It would have to be carried out at least with the knowledge of the U.S..

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

Russia's call

Vladimir Radyuhin reports from Moscow:

Russia has stepped up pressure on Iran not to resume nuclear research, urging Teheran to abide by its moratorium and fully cooperate with the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

"We again call on Iran to reconsider its decisions and return to the state of moratorium and engage in full and transparent cooperation with the IAEA, as is foreseen in the relative resolutions of the Agency's Board," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a press statement on Friday.

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