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Israel will ensure 'survival' against Iran threat: minister
Brussels (AFP) Oct 15, 2009 Israel reserves the right to take whatever action is needed to survive in the face of Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Jewish state's far-right infrastructure minister, Uzi Landau, said. "We'll take the actions that are necessary for our survival, we'll do whatever is necessary at that time," he told AFP late Wednesday, expressing regret that EU nations did not see the Islamic republic as a major threat. "It is better not to talk now about the details" of any action, he said, amid concern that Iran is covertly building an atomic bomb as it develops a civil nuclear programme. "By the actions taken by most European governments you don't see that the gravity of the situation has been understood," said Landau, from the far-right Yisrael Beitenu party. Israel considers Iran to be its arch-enemy after repeated statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the Holocaust was a "myth" and that Israel must be "wiped off the map." On Friday, an aide to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying that Iran will "blow up the heart" of Israel if attacked by the Jewish state or the United States. "Even if one American or Zionist missile hits our land, before the dust is settled, Iranian missiles will blow up the heart of Israel," his deputy representative to the elite Revolutionary Guards, Mojtaba Zolnour, said, according to state news agency IRNA. The United States and its regional ally Israel have never ruled out a military option to stop Tehran's nuclear drive.
US lawmakers approve Iran sanctions bill The bill, which sailed through by a 414-6 vote, permits US states, local governments and pension funds to end investments in firms that have 20 million dollars or more invested in Iran's petroleum or natural gas operations. "The risks posed by a nuclear Iran -- from threats to our allies, to a Middle Eastern arms race, to a nuclear umbrella for terrorists -- are too grave to ignore," said Democratic House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Hoyer said he backed President Barack Obama's diplomatic engagement with Iran but warned that the voted showed "the window for engagement will not remain open indefinitely." The legislation does not directly impose sanctions on Iran, but shields states and local governments from lawsuits if they pull their money out of such businesses. "No one in this country ought to involuntarily have his or her money put to the support of the Iranian economy," said Democratic House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, the bill's lead author. Nineteen states and Washington have enacted laws or other policies to divest their pension funds from international firms that do business with Iran, while US companies are already barred from doing business with the Islamic republic. "This legislation gives a strong 'go signal' to state and local leaders around America to get out of Iran," said Representative Mark Kirk, the measure's lead Republican author. Democratic Senator Bob Casey and Republican Senator Sam Brownback have crafted similar legislation in the Senate and has 36 co-sponsors. Both chambers must approve identical legislation before it can go to Obama to sign into law. And lawmakers may soon take more severe action, with pending legislation that would impose sanctions on companies that help Iran import gasoline and other refined petroleum products to meet its domestic energy needs. "For diplomacy to succeed, we must provide our diplomats more tools for their diplomatic toolbox," said Kirk, who is also a lead author of that legislation. The House-approved measure covers any firm that invests 20 million dollars or more in Iran's energy sector, provides that sum as a credit to be used for such an investments, or provides oil or liquefied natural gas tankers or products used to construct or maintain oil or natural gas pipelines in Iran. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
'Too early' to focus on Iran sanctions: Russia's PutinBeijing (AFP) Oct 14, 2009 Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that it was "too early" to discuss new sanctions against Iran, as world powers try to defuse the standoff over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme. Putin's comments, which came during a visit to Beijing, were his first since the revelation late last month that Iran is building a new uranium enrichment plant near its holy city of Qom, reviv ... read more |
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