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Iran: Nuclear Weapon Likely in Five Years, Israel Says Iran could have a nuclear weapon in less than five years, Israeli officials said yesterday, differing from U.S. intelligence reports that it would take nearly 10 years (see GSN, Feb. 7). “By the year 2005 they will be ready to produce to the world for the first time an Iranian nuclear bomb,” said Israeli Defense Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer. “Some of us think it could come earlier.” Eliezer made his comments during his visit to the United States this week. Eliezer and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon have tried to convince U.S. President George W. Bush that Iran remains the principal threat in the Middle East, according to the Chicago Tribune. Asked if Israel would try to destroy Iran’s developing nuclear capability through air strikes, such as it did to Iraq in the 1980s, Eliezer said, “I don’t think there is a need to use weaponry … there are ways, diplomatic ways, economic ways” to convince Iran (see GSN, Feb. 6). Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday said Iran would not launch attacks against the United States or other countries in the Middle East, but he warned of a severe response if Iran was attacked. “The Iranian nation will not initiate an attack because we believe that seeking hegemony is as bad as accepting it,” Khamenei said. “Whoever threatens the interests of the Iranian nation or attacks this nation, the answer of the Iranian nation will be harsh and make them regret.” Which is Worse: Iran or Iraq? Israel is ready to support any U.S. attacks on Iraq, but Israel’s main benefit in such a case would be the effect on Iran, Eliezer said. “To get into Iraq means to get in between Syria and Iran,” he said. “This can be a very good move” (John Diamond, Chicago Tribune, Feb. 8). It is Iran, however, not Iraq that remains the biggest threat in the Middle East, Eliezer said. “Today everybody is busy with Iraq,” he said. “Iraq is a problem. But you should understand, if you ask me, today Iran is more dangerous than Iraq.” Iraq has become less of a threat due to a decade of U.N. sanctions and isolation, Israeli officials said (see related GSN story, today). They added, however, that they are concerned that Iraq might retaliate against a U.S. attack by using biological or chemical weapons against Israel. “I think we are going to be one of the first targets,” Eliezer said (Alan Sipress, Washington Post/Boston Globe, Feb. 7).
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