Iran to strike Israel if attacked

Wire services
For Al-Shorfa.com
2008-07-07

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's top nuclear negotiator and head of Iran's Supreme Council of National Security Saeed Jalili arrive for a meeting in Tehran on July 1, 2008. (Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty)

Iran would attack Israel and block the Persian Gulf if attacked by Israeli forces, Tehran has warned.

Iran made the threat following reports that Israel has been warming up for a raid on its nuclear installations by conducting exercises in the eastern Mediterranean.

It is reported that up to 100 Israeli warplanes had flown over 1000 km in practice for a strike. It would be the same distance to one of Iran’s nuclear sites.

The claims follow a New York Times story on 30 June, saying the Israeli exercise, involving more than 100 Israeli fighter jets, was intended to demonstrate the seriousness of Israel’s concern over Iran’s nuclear activities and its willingness to act unilaterally.

It said helicopters and refuelling tankers flew more than 1,400 km (870 miles) roughly the distance between Israel and Iran’s main uranium enrichment plant at Natanz.

No Israeli officials or representatives of the American State Department were prepared to comment.

Iran’s nuclear programme began in 1974 with plans to build a nuclear power station at Bushehr with German assistance.

The project was abandoned because of the Islamic revolution five years later, but revived in the 90s when Tehran signed an agreement with Russia.Islamic revolution five years later, but revived in the 90s when Tehran signed and agreement with Russia.

Moscow delayed completion while the U.N. Security Council debated and then passed resolutions aimed at stopping uranium enrichment in Iran.

Last December, Moscow started delivering the canisters of enriched uranium the plant needs. One plant is expected to be operational this year.

The former head of Israeli foreign intelligence agency, said in an interview at the weekend that Israel has one year to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme or it faces the risk of coming under nuclear attack.

Shabtai Shavit said Iran would have a nuclear weapon “within a year” and that Israel should be prepared. And he said Israel would not need American approval to carry out such a raid.

“When it comes to decisions that affect our national security and our own survival, American approval is not a pre-condition,” he said.

The Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has promised to bombard Israel with missiles and block the strategic oil sea route, the Straits of Hormuz.

Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said there were strong deterrents against attacking Iran, including the country’s missile power, the vulnerability of Israeli and U.S. forces in the region and the low probability of a successful attack.

Just before the exercise Europe presented Tehran with an offer of economic incentives to halt its enrichment plan. Iran has not formally responded.

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