The Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, denied on Saturday reports which stated that Israel is holding talks with the United States over a potential attack against nuclear facilities in Iran, an Israeli online daily reported.The daily added that British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, reported early Sunday that Israel is negotiating with the U.S. over permission for an "air corridor" over Iraq, should an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities become necessary.
The Daily Telegraph report stated that Israel would need permission from the United States Department of Defense to carry out such an attack.
In an interview with the Israeli Radio, Sneh accused what he described as “International Authorities” especially in the West, of being anxious to spread the story that Israel wants to strike Iran. These countries, according to Sneh, do not want direct involvement with Iran.
He added that “instead on diverting attention to a claimed military operation, those countries should start focusing on economic sanctions on Iran for defying the resolutions of the UN Security Council”
The Israeli Radio cited senior Israeli military officials saying that talks between the U.S and Israel are underway over the possibility that Israel would decide to take a unilateral action against Iran “to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons”.
An Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said that Israel is planning for every scenario and is organising the critical issues. The official added that any possible attack would be carried out through a U.S-controlled air space.
Earlier this year, Israeli security claimed that Iran could have the sufficient knowledge and feasible materials to produce nuclear weapons by 2009.
Last week Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the head of Mossad (The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations) Meir Dagan, who is also a leading expert on Iran, intends to postpone his retirement until the end of 2007 at the earliest, Israeli media reported.
They also reported that Olmert has handed military aspects regarding “the Iran nuclear issue” to Eliezer Shkedy, the Israeli Air Force Commander.
The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, in addition to Germany, will meet Monday in London for what was described as “an emergency session on the matter”.
The countries will discuss Iran's arms control and a possible cut back in the $25 billion in export credits which European countries use to trade with Iran, the Israeli media said.
If Israel decides to attack the Iranian facilities, it would not be the first time that the Israeli Air Force flies over Iraqi airspace. On June 17, 1981, the Israeli Air Force destroyed Osirak Iraqi nuclear reactor which was still under construction under the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Moreover, the U.S. Vice President, Dick Cheney, said on Saturday that the United States and it's allies should bar Iran from obtaining nuclear power.
