US ready to strike Iran, says envoy

18 May 2012, 10:06 am   -   Source: AAP
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The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are gearing up to for a May 23 meeting with Iran in Baghdad. Shortly after the meeting, the UN atomic agency is to release its latest report card on Iran's nuclear efforts.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are gearing up to for a May 23 meeting with Iran in Baghdad. Shortly after the meeting, the UN atomic agency is to release its latest report card on Iran's nuclear efforts.

Washington's envoy to Israel says the US has plans in place to attack Iran if necessary to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

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The US has plans in place to attack Iran if necessary to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, Washington's envoy to Israel says, days ahead of a crucial round of nuclear talks with Tehran.

Dan Shapiro's message resonated on Thursday far beyond the closed forum in which it was made: Iran should not test Washington's resolve to act on its promise to strike if diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Tehran to abandon its disputed nuclear program.

Shapiro told the Israel Bar Association the US hopes it will not have to resort to military force.

"But that doesn't mean that option is not fully available. Not just available, but it's ready," he said. "The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it's ready."

Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, like energy production. The US and Israel suspect Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, but differences have emerged in how to persuade Tehran to curb its program.

Washington says diplomacy and economic sanctions must be given a chance to run its course, and is taking the lead in the ongoing talks between six global powers and Iran.

Israel, while saying it would prefer a diplomatic solution, has expressed scepticism about these talks and says time is running out for military action to be effective.

President Barack Obama has assured Israel that the US is prepared to take military action if necessary, and it is standard procedure for armies to draw up plans for a broad range of possible scenarios. But Shapiro's comments were the most explicit sign yet that preparations have been stepped up.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are gearing up to for a May 23 meeting with Iran in Baghdad. Shortly after the meeting, the UN atomic agency is to release its latest report card on Iran's nuclear efforts.

In Tehran on Thursday, top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili warned against Western pressure at next week's talks, which are a follow-up to negotiations in Istanbul last month that all sides praised as positive.

"Cooperation is what we can talk about in Baghdad," Jalili said in comments broadcast on Iranian state TV.

"Some say time is running out for the talks," he added. "I say time for the (West's) pressure strategy is running out."

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Your Comments

Any excuse

Mohhamed - from Lakemba Sydney, 1 year

@John you seriously need to stop watching CNN

American diplomacy on how to maintain your enemies

Mona - from Australia, 1 year

Iran? The country formerly known as Persia, isn't it? The same country where the Americans lovingly supported a tyrant, a despot, a ruler, called the Shah of Persia, whose brutal rule and secret police were overturned in 1979 by a Peoples Revolution. ( The arab spring of 1979 ) and they threw the Americans out of their country. They had every reason to hate the USA for decades of interference and callous disregard for the Persian people. I'm old enough to remember. Nothings changed.

RE: UNCLE SAM READY TO STRIKE IRAN

gbilios - from MELBOURNE, 1 year

here we go again.another iraq campaign in iran to get the oil for free. wheres sadam's weapons of mass destruction? found 'em yet?

It can be us in the future.

Tim - from Sydney, 1 year

If money and resources is a legitimate reason for war, there is no reason for us to be spared.

Israel marching America to war

piet - from wa, 1 year

When will the insatiable appetite for war within Israel abate? Why are they so adamant to engage in a first strike against Iran and trigger a far greater conflict? Who the hell do they think they are? This Shapiro, whose name betrays his allegiance, seems only to be pandering to the hawkish side of Israeli society only too willing to create chaos in the region.

Here we go again..

Ryan - from Bris, 1 year

It never ends!

Mr

john - from Delfgou, 1 year

I was against the war in Iraq but this is a totally different matter the leader of Iran has said that he wants to wipe Israeli of the map and there is a belief in Shiite of martyrdom that the religious mad men that control Iran promote. They also hang young girls for so called moral crimes so the sooner that the USA and Israel attack the better.thier might be the benefit of the criminal government galling

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