Revealed: Israel plans strike on Iranian nuclear plant

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Sat, 12 Mar 2005 22:32:40 -0500

Revealed: Israel plans strike on Iranian nuclear plant

 

 

 

Revealed: Israel plans strike on Iranian nuclear plant --Israel has

drawn up secret plans for a combined air and ground attack on targets

in Iran if diplomacy fails to halt the Iranian nuclear programme. The

inner cabinet of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, gave

" initial authorisation " for an attack at a private meeting last month

on his ranch in the Negev desert.

 

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-1522978,00.html

 

The Sunday Times - World

 

March 13, 2005

 

Revealed: Israel plans strike on Iranian nuclear plant

Uzi Mahnaimi

ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans for a combined air and ground attack

on targets in Iran if diplomacy fails to halt the Iranian nuclear

programme.

 

The inner cabinet of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, gave

" initial authorisation " for an attack at a private meeting last month

on his ranch in the Negev desert.

 

Israeli forces have used a mock-up of Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment

plant in the desert to practise destroying it. Their tactics include

raids by Israel's elite Shaldag (Kingfisher) commando unit and

airstrikes by F-15 jets from 69 Squadron, using bunker-busting bombs

to penetrate underground facilities.

 

The plans have been discussed with American officials who are said to

have indicated provisionally that they would not stand in Israel's way

if all international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear projects failed.

 

Tehran claims that its programme is designed for peaceful purposes but

Israeli and American intelligence officials — who have met to share

information in recent weeks — are convinced that it is intended to

produce nuclear weapons.

 

The Israeli government responded cautiously yesterday to an

announcement by Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, that

America would support Britain, France and Germany in offering economic

incentives for Tehran to abandon its programme.

 

In return, the European countries promised to back Washington in

referring Iran to the United Nations security council if the latest

round of talks fails to secure agreement.

 

Silvan Shalom, the Israeli foreign minister, said he believed that

diplomacy was the only way to deal with the issue. But he warned: " The

idea that this tyranny of Iran will hold a nuclear bomb is a

nightmare, not only for us but for the whole world. "

 

Dick Cheney, the American vice-president, emphasised on Friday that

Iran would face " stronger action " if it failed to respond. But

yesterday Iran rejected the initiative, which provides for entry to

the World Trade Organisation and a supply of spare parts for airliners

if it co-operates.

 

" No pressure, bribe or threat can make Iran give up its legitimate

right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, " said an

Iranian spokesman.

 

US officials warned last week that a military strike on Iranian

nuclear facilities by Israeli or American forces had not been ruled

out should the issue become deadlocked at the United Nations.

 

Additional reporting: Tony Allen-Mills, Washington