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Iran promises retaliation if Israel attacks
Iran promises retaliation if Israel attacks
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
TEHRAN, Iran
Iran's top nuclear negotiator warned Israel on Tuesday that his
country would certainly retaliate if the Jewish state were to attack
Iranian nuclear facilities.
Israel and the United States suspect Iran is secretly building
nuclear weapons under cover of a nuclear program to produce
electricity. In the past, Israel has said it will not allow Iran to
build a nuclear bomb. In 1981, Israeli fighter-bombers destroyed a
nuclear reactor that was under construction outside Baghdad because
it feared Iraq would acquire a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said last month Iran was a
threat to Israel, "maybe the main existential threat."
In an interview with state television, Iran's chief negotiator on
nuclear affairs, Hasan Rowhani, warned that an Israeli attack would
have severe consequences.
"Israel knows our hands are well equipped," Rowhani said. "If such
an incident happens, it will meet a resolute response from our
side."
Rowhani did not explain what he meant by saying Iran was "well
equipped," but Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said in December that
Iran would strike back with long-range missiles if Israel were to
attack its nuclear facilities.
Shamkhani said Iran's Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of about
1,300 kilometers (810 miles), would be one of the weapons used.
Israel is about 965 kilometers (600 miles) west of Iran.
Suspicion of Israel and its agents is pervasive in Iran. On
Saturday, Iran's armed forces closed the new Imam Khomeini
International Airport on its first day of scheduled flights. Citing
security concerns, the armed forces spoke of possible links between
Israel and a Turkish company that has a contract to operate the
airport. The Turkish company rejected the allegation.
Turkey does have military links with Israel.
Iran is building its first nuclear reactor, which is expected to
come on stream next year. It has been criticized by the
International Atomic Energy Agency for failing to disclose certain
aspects of its nuclear program. Iran has promised to cooperate fully
with IAEA inspectors and insists its program is only for peaceful
purposes.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
TEHRAN, Iran
Iran's top nuclear negotiator warned Israel on Tuesday that his
country would certainly retaliate if the Jewish state were to attack
Iranian nuclear facilities.
Israel and the United States suspect Iran is secretly building
nuclear weapons under cover of a nuclear program to produce
electricity. In the past, Israel has said it will not allow Iran to
build a nuclear bomb. In 1981, Israeli fighter-bombers destroyed a
nuclear reactor that was under construction outside Baghdad because
it feared Iraq would acquire a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said last month Iran was a
threat to Israel, "maybe the main existential threat."
In an interview with state television, Iran's chief negotiator on
nuclear affairs, Hasan Rowhani, warned that an Israeli attack would
have severe consequences.
"Israel knows our hands are well equipped," Rowhani said. "If such
an incident happens, it will meet a resolute response from our
side."
Rowhani did not explain what he meant by saying Iran was "well
equipped," but Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said in December that
Iran would strike back with long-range missiles if Israel were to
attack its nuclear facilities.
Shamkhani said Iran's Shahab-3 missile, which has a range of about
1,300 kilometers (810 miles), would be one of the weapons used.
Israel is about 965 kilometers (600 miles) west of Iran.
Suspicion of Israel and its agents is pervasive in Iran. On
Saturday, Iran's armed forces closed the new Imam Khomeini
International Airport on its first day of scheduled flights. Citing
security concerns, the armed forces spoke of possible links between
Israel and a Turkish company that has a contract to operate the
airport. The Turkish company rejected the allegation.
Turkey does have military links with Israel.
Iran is building its first nuclear reactor, which is expected to
come on stream next year. It has been criticized by the
International Atomic Energy Agency for failing to disclose certain
aspects of its nuclear program. Iran has promised to cooperate fully
with IAEA inspectors and insists its program is only for peaceful
purposes.
What is Iran going to do? If it retaliates, surely the US will step in. I guess Bush would then have an excuse to invade Iran. Oh well... it should make for interesting news.
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