Israel ‘ready to act’ over Iran

BBC News
Thursday, July 10, 2008

Israel’s defence minister has warned of his country’s readiness to act against Iran if it feels threatened.

Ehud Barak, speaking in Tel Aviv, said Israel had “proved in the past that it won’t hesitate to act when its vital security interests are at stake”.

He spoke as Iran’s testing of missiles that could reach Israel stoked tensions between the two, and with the US.

But Mr Barak added that diplomatic solutions should be pursued before other options were taken up.

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“Currently the focus is international sanctions and vigorous diplomatic activity, and these avenues should be exhausted,” he said.

US warning

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

Over the past two days, the Iranian military has tested missiles, including one that it says could reach Israel.

State media said the tests included the first night launch of the Shahab-3 missile, said to have a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles), along with shore-to-sea, surface-to-surface and sea-to-air missiles.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US had increased its security in the region and Iran should not be “confused” about US capabilities.

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