Thursday, 3 November 2011

BREAKING NEWS: Amid war talk, Obama calls for keeping pressure on Iran

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November 3, 2011

Amid war talk, Obama calls for keeping pressure on Iran

(JTA) -- President Obama called for keeping up international pressure on Iran amid news reports that Israel may be preparing for war with the Islamic Republic. >>



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Amid war talk, Obama calls for keeping pressure on Iran

November 3, 2011

(JTA) -- President Obama called for keeping up international pressure on Iran amid news reports that Israel may be preparing for war with the Islamic Republic.

The president’s comments, made Thursday at a joint news conference in France with President Nicolas Sarkozy, were delivered several days before the scheduled release of a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear program.

"We had the opportunity also to talk about a range of security issues," Obama said of his conversation with Sarkozy. "One in particular that I want to mention is the continuing threat posed by Iran's nuclear program."

Obama added that "President Sarkozy and I agreed on the need to maintain the unprecedented international pressure on Iran to meet its obligations."

The comments came as the Israel Defense Forces held a drill in central Israel simulating missile attacks on Tel Aviv. Israeli defense officials said the drills were scheduled months ago.

The Home Front Command drill Thursday was a simulation of a rocket attack on a civilian area. The drill included opening evacuation centers and handing out gas masks.

The drill was held following several days of reports in the Israeli media that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are pushing the Israeli Cabinet to approve an attack on Iran. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman strenuously denied the reports in an interview Wednesday on Israel Radio.

Also Wednesday, the Israeli military successfully test fired a ballistic missile from the Palmachim Airbase in central Israel, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry. It is widely believed that Israel has missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.


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Report: West Ready to Attack Iran

A report in the British Guardian newspaper Wednesday said that the U.S. and the UK were gearing up for a possible attack on Iran.
By David Lev
First Publish: 11/2/2011, 10:36 PM

Spike missile
Spike missile
Israel news photo: Rafael Systems

A report in the British Guardiannewspaper Wednesday said that the U.S. and the UK were gearing up for a possible attack on Iran. According to the report, the U.S. has become increasingly frustrated – and concerned – over Iran's refusal to end its enrichment of uranium. Britain has agreed to help, despite some members of the British governmentbeing opposed to providing such assistance.

"In anticipation of a potential attack, British military planners are examining where best to deploy Royal Navy ships and submarines equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles over the coming months as part of what would be an air- and sea-launched campaign,” the article says. Officials said that the U.S. would launch some missile attacks from British ships, if action was taken against Iran, as well as from the British protectorate of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean,

According to the Guardian, the decision to strike Iran came about as the result of the successful campaign that resulted in the dethroning of Muammar Qaddafi as dictator of Libya.

In a statement, the British Defense Ministry said that “the British Government believes that a dual track strategy of pressure and engagement is the best approach to address the threat from Iran’s nuclear program and avoid regional conflict. We want a negotiated solution - but all options should be kept on the table.”

Coinciding with the Guardian report, other reports said that Israel was planning its own incursion against Iran. After reports of a successful long-range military mission in Sardinia surfaced Wednesday, media rumors said that IDF troops had undertaken what was essentially a “dry run” of an attack against Iran.

In a statement, Iran said that it would “punish” any violation of its sovereignty, no matter by whom. “"The United States is fully aware that a military attack by the Zionist regime on Iran will not only cause tremendous damage to that regime, but it will also inflict serious damage to the U.S.,” a top Iranian general said Wednesday. "We, as the military, take every threat, however distant and improbable, as very real, and are fully prepared to use suitable equipment to punish any kind of mistake,” the official said.

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