Israeli President says attack on Iran "more and more likely"

[Cail]

Israeli President Shimon Peres warned on Sunday that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely, days before a report by the UN's nuclear watchdog on Iran's nuclear programme is due.

"The possibility of a military attack against Iran is now closer to being applied than the application of a diplomatic option," Peres told the Israel Hayom daily.

"We must stay calm and resist pressure so that we can consider every alternative," he added.

"I don't think that any decision has already been made, but there is an impression that Iran is getting closer to nuclear weapons."

His comments came after he warned in an interview aired by Israel's privately-owned Channel Two television on Saturday that an attack on Iran was becoming "more and more likely."

"The intelligence services of the different countries that are keeping an eye on (Iran) are worried and putting pressure on their leaders to warn that Iran is ready to obtain the nuclear weapon," he said.

In France meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe warned that an attack on Iran would be disastrous.

"We have imposed sanctions that continue to expand, we can toughen them to put pressure on Iran," Juppe told Europe 1 radio.

"We will continue on this path because a military intervention could create a situation that completely destabilises the region," he said.

"Everything must be done to avoid the irreversible."

In recent days, speculation in Israel has grown about the possibility of a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, with Haaretz newspaper reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak were seeking cabinet support for an attack.

And the military last week carried out what Israeli media called a "ballistic missile" test, as well as a large-scale civil defence drill simulating the response to conventional and non-conventional missile attacks.

Officials said both events were long-planned, but they drove talk here about whether Israel is ramping up plans for an attack.

On Sunday, Haaretz reported that US officials had failed to secure a commitment from Israel that it would coordinate any attack plans with Washington.

Still, media reports suggested no final decision has been taken and that a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear watchdog on November 8 or 9 would have a "decisive effect" on decision-making.

Previous IAEA assessments have centred on Iran's efforts to produce fissile material -- uranium and plutonium -- that can be used for power generation and other peaceful uses, but also for the core of a nuclear warhead.

However the new update, which diplomats say will be circulated among envoys on Tuesday or Wednesday, will focus on Iran's alleged efforts to put the fissile material in a warhead and develop missiles to carry them to a target.

On Monday, Barak denied reports that he and Netanyahu had already decided to attack Iran over the opposition of military and intelligence chiefs.

But he said "situations could arise in the Middle East under which Israel must defend its vital interests independently, without having to rely on regional or other forces."

Haaretz said a majority of the 15 members of Israel's security cabinet were still against an attack on Iran, and a poll published by the newspaper found Israeli public opinion divided, with 41 percent in favour, 39 percent opposed and 20 percent undecided.

Israel has consistently warned all options remain on the table when it comes to Iran's nuclear programme, which the Jewish state and Western governments fear masks a drive for nuclear weapons.

Iran denies any such ambition and insists its nuclear programme is for power generation and medical purposes only.

In comments published on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi accused the IAEA of "political" behaviour and said its report would be "baseless."

"I believe that these documents lack authenticity. But if they insist, they should go ahead and publish. Better to face danger once than be always in danger," several Iranian dailies quoted Salehi as saying.

"We have said repeatedly that their documents are baseless. For example one can counterfeit money, but it remains counterfeit. These documents are like that," Salehi said.

Oh super, just what Israel needs to do

[Correction]

Only Jews may possess nuclear warheads.

[Dareus]

OPERATION IRANIAN FREEDOM 2012!!!!!!

[Hyan]

Don't click if you don't want to get spoiled:

Spoiler: show

http://snappedshot.com/uploads/Parody/amap445.jpg

[Karasu]

Don't click if you don't want to get spoiled:

Spoiler: show

http://snappedshot.com/uploads/Parody/amap445.jpg

We can only hope.

[Vuitton]

I hope they aim a little further south and take out the rest of Somalia as well. If they're gonna go big, they might as well take out as many problematic countries as possible. In addition, ocean level will be reduced globally. Take that melting glaciers!

[Indalecia]

Oh goody, more retardation

[ronin sparthos]

If you guys simply think the Middle East alone being wiped off the map would solve the problem of doomsday religions, you're sadly mistaken.

Some of the most hardcore won't stop until the entire planet is an uninhabitable wasteland of strewn corpses. They'll have the last laugh though cause heaven is loaded with virgins.

[Hyan]

I hope they aim a little further south and take out the rest of Somalia as well. If they're gonna go big, they might as well take out as many problematic countries as possible. In addition, ocean level will be reduced globally. Take that melting glaciers!

[Dimmauk]

Amazing.

[shepardG]

Dim, why is that buisness man hitting that other man and then instantly making up in your signature?

[Sup3rB4d]

That's Antonio Inoki, a pro wrestler, japanese MMA pioneer and Lyoto's former promoter.
That punch is the Toukon "Fighting spirit" punch, seen as a honorable symbol in Japan.

[Salodin]

So what if Iran attempts for wide spread nuclear power for their nation, which is inevitable in the next century. What legitimate reasoning could they have to prevent this?

Unless this has already happened, then what is our reasoning for being against it?

[Kerberoz]

[guartz]

aggressive posturing of a war mongering state.. breaking news.

[Senoska]

I have a very good feeling that Israel would get stomped if this happened. The middle east would snap against them. This would be an awful move on the Israeli's part. They have no alli's in the area, in fact, all they have is enemies at this point with the recent fallout with Egypt.

[shepardG]

I have a very good feeling that Israel would get stomped if this happened. The middle east would snap against them. This would be an awful move on the Israeli's part. They have no alli's in the area, in fact, all they have is enemies at this point with the recent fallout with Egypt.

If by "stomped" you mean, fuck the ever living shit out of Iran, leading into a grueling prolonged war with 3-5 countries vs. them? And them holding their own, since most of those other countries have absolutely no prior experience working together. I'm not "rooting" for Israel, far from it, as it's just another prime example of the fail that has been our socialogical evolution the past 50 years, but i will give them their due. They are probably the best fighting force in the middle east right now.

[Cantih]

>.>

<.<

Where's Kuya?

[Anoat]

Don't click if you don't want to get spoiled:

Spoiler: show

http://snappedshot.com/uploads/Parody/amap445.jpg

Chronopolis?!? I bet the Ahmadinejad vs. Miguel fight would be pretty epic.

[Plow]

earthquakes in oklahoma, snow in texas in october, israel directly threatening to attack iran

damn, it's almost 2012, isn't it