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IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi (Daniel Bar-On / JINI, archives) Last update - 09:31 24/07/2008 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran By Haaretz service and Reuters Tags: Iran, Gabi Ashkenazi, IDF  Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, on his first official visit to Washington, warned Thursday that Israel would not rule out any course of action regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israel Radio reported. "We are all united in the view that Iran needs to be prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon. There is no doubt that diplomatic activity and sanctions are preferable, but we all understand - we and the Americans - that we need to prepare all options," the radio report quoted Ashkenazi stating after meeting with senior United States officials. Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its civil nuclear program. Iran denies that, saying its atomic program is to generate power so it can export more of its valuable oil and gas. Advertisement On the first day of his trip Wednesday, the IDF chief warned that it was crucial to block what he called "Iranian aggression" in the Middle East. "We are are witnessing, I believe, a paradigmatic change in the Middle East in which radical countries and elements are trying to [install] a new order to replace the traditional national, secular one that exists today," Ashkenazi said in a brief speech at the Israeli Embassy. Israel and Washington accuse Iran of fomenting violence in Iraq and of supplying arms to Palestinian militants and to Lebanon's Hezbollah, which the United States regards as a terrorist organization. "At the center of this radical axis is Iran, who seeks to achieve its regional aspiration of hegemony by upsetting the existing balance of power," Ashkenazi told the embassy, accusing Iran of backing "terror organizations and radical groups" and of pursuing nuclear arms "to project power within the region and beyond." "I believe it is therefore crucial that we block Iranian aggression, which [may] in turn weaken the radicalization process in the region presently being manifested in such places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and in the Palestinian territories," he added. Ashkenazi made no reference to speculation about the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel carried out an air strike last year on a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor. The IDF chief met with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday, as well as senior congressmen and John Negroponte, the deputy secretary of state. On Thursday he was set to meet with his counterpart at the Pentagon, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama pledged to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Wednesday that if elected, he will coordinate his policy on Iran with Israel. Senior U.S. officials, while saying they never take any option off the table - code for the possibility of a military strike - have played down speculation about a U.S. military strike against Iran over its nuclear program. But speculation that Israel could bomb Iranian nuclear installations has grown since it reportedly carried out a large-scale air force drill over the Mediterranean last month that was widely seen as a "dress rehearsal" for a possible raid on Iran. The United States is pursuing a diplomatic path to try to persuade Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program, a process that can produce fuel for power plants or, if greatly refined, for nuclear weapons. So far, neither Western offers of economic incentives nor three UN Security Council sanctions resolutions have convinced Iran to suspend uranium enrichment. U.S. officials have said repeatedly they are focused on the diplomatic track and, along with other permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, have given Iran two weeks to respond to a fresh offer of incentives from the so-called P5+1 group if it suspends uranium enrichment. Ashkenazi's schedule on Wednesday included meetings with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley, Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and key members of Congress. On Thursday, he is to meet Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Related articles: Obama pledges to coordinate Iran policy with Israel U.S. admiral: Iran strike on Israel 'likely' Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel Bookmark to del.icio.us   Internal fighting Human rights groups say torture is widespread in Palestinian lockups. Danger looms Pentagon chief Robert Gates warns: War with Iran would be 'disastrous.'   1.   Iran`s "New Order" in the ME 08:11  |  Nora 24/07/08   2.   Saber rattling: refuge & pretext for Apartheid and Occupation 08:19  |  Ivar 24/07/08   3.   "We must block Iranian aggression" 09:14  |  Akram Zekaria 24/07/08   4.   Upsetting the existing balance of power 09:31  |  Guy From NYC 24/07/08   5.   Bush has taken the "attack Iran" option off the table 09:32  |  Natallie Durson 24/07/08   6.   Three words from Sussex to Ashkenazi 09:54  |  Clickfool 24/07/08   7.   A game of chess between allies - let`s hope Israel wins! 10:09  |  Ivor Dwatt 24/07/08   8.   The New Order in ME will be Fundamentalist 10:29  |  Nora 24/07/08   9.   OT: Interesting story for Zionists who sneer at UK Marines 10:34  |  Clickfool 24/07/08   10.   Re the guy from Sussex #2 11:30  |  Esther 24/07/08   11.   Clickfool 11:32  |  Joe 24/07/08   12.   It is over Israel, America has decided 11:32  |  Mark B. 24/07/08   13.   For Iran,"negotiation" and "compromise" are euphemisms for... 12:13  |  Jean Van Daem 24/07/08   14.   Persia will rise from the ashes of Islam 12:13  |  Jon 24/07/08   15.   Don`t you wish you had the grit of a Marine Clickfool 12:18  |  Ramius 24/07/08   16.   Israel vs US Economy 12:26  |  Persian Hero 24/07/08   17.   Mark B. - Israel doesn`t take orders, we do what 12:49  |  Ben 24/07/08   18.   Which "all options" ?! 12:53  |  Robin 24/07/08   19.   Clickfool 13:11  |  Ehud 24/07/08   20.   #7 Mark B. that is unworthy of you. 13:23  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 24/07/08   21.   Iran to Ashkenazi: Retaliation options will perforate your a$$ 14:09  |  Aounist 24/07/08   22.   #1 More Duhrson Drivel 14:32  |  Bill Foonman 24/07/08   23.   Clickfool 15:01  |  Yosemite 24/07/08   24.   Iran`s Menace in the region and the world 15:23  |  Brod 24/07/08   25.   The unabashed arrogance of some people who think 15:31  |  The Equalizer 24/07/08   26.   CFOOL An interesting story for hero worshippers of Hamas 15:40  |  PETER SM 24/07/08   27.   MARK B.Has the USA decided to allow Iran to develop nukes? 15:44  |  PETER SM 24/07/08   28.   All Dogs Can Bark In Their Own Yard. 15:48  |  Cool B 24/07/08   29.   Curping Extermism 15:51  |  Sam 24/07/08   30.   #16 BF`s unmitigated gall 15:58  |  Keith T. 24/07/08   31.   Ashkenazi in U.S 16:01  |  Fred 24/07/08   32.   Ashkenazi in U.S. or Chickie Licky the sky in falling 16:05  |  Fred Morrison 24/07/08   33.   Obama will strike Iran 16:09  |  arik 24/07/08   34.   Clickfool # 5. 16:16  |  David Nigel Braham 24/07/08   35.   For Ramius # 11 16:17  |  Clickfool 24/07/08   36.   Ashkenazi is a war criminal! Arrest him! 16:18  |  kaled 24/07/08   37.   COOLB You must have missed taking out Sadaams reactor 16:39  |  PETER SM 24/07/08   38.   "Iranian aggression" in the Middle East 16:40  |  Tranquilizer 24/07/08   39.   MARK B Where is Ashkenazi asking for permission? 16:41  |  PETER SM 24/07/08   40.   Balance of Power 17:08  |  ManintheMiddle 24/07/08   41.   Tranquilizer, you`re on drugs! 17:12  |  Martin 24/07/08   42.   #37 Peter Sam 17:14  |  Cool B 24/07/08   43.   YOU Israelis have started it all, so deal with it 17:23  |  mehmet 24/07/08   44.   Mehment - are you smoking nargillah? 17:53  |  Jewboy 24/07/08   45.   millions of iranians will be vapourised unless... 18:04  |  frenz 24/07/08   46.   Mehmet # 43. 18:06  |  David Nigel Braham 24/07/08   47.   @17 Ben 18:13  |  Mark B. 24/07/08   48.   Well Margie, that is fast 18:14  |  Mark B. 24/07/08   49.   #39 PETER SM and others 18:17  |  Mark B. 24/07/08   50.   #39 PETER SM and others 18:17  |  Mark B. 24/07/08   51.   #1 Nora, I`m sorry to say it, but ... 18:37  |  Edith 24/07/08   52.   Clickfool 18:41  |  Marco 24/07/08   53.   Comical Ali`s everywhere 18:43  |  ScotGuy 24/07/08   54.   #46, That not gonna happen! 18:46  |  Persian Hero 24/07/08   55.   #46, That not gonna happen! 18:46  |  Persian Hero 24/07/08   56.   # 12 Mark B., I hope you are right 18:47  |  Edith 24/07/08   57.   Iran should sue at the International Court of Justice,israel, 18:54  |  lakshmi 24/07/08   58.   One unsneering Zionist (Clickfool, #9) 18:55  |  Morris Valentine 24/07/08   59.   Mehmet - Israel did not start it Arabs did 18:58  |  David Israel 24/07/08   60.   well David Nigel Braham, this is precisely the other side says 19:17  |  mehmet 24/07/08   61.   Hysterical Propaganda From Dishonest War Pimp 19:26  |  Gray 24/07/08   62.   Mehmet # 60. 19:36  |  David Nigel Braham 24/07/08   63.   Mehmet - you like to put words oin others mouth 19:36  |  David Israel 24/07/08   64.   NOT THIS TIME 20:01  |  ROGER 24/07/08   65.   Grey #61. 20:19  |  David Nigel Braham 24/07/08   66.   Let`s hear Lakshmi`s comments on US/India nuke power pact 20:25  |  Voice of Reason 24/07/08   67.   58 Morris Valentine,a jewish homeland,not an israeli state! 21:08  |  lakshmi 24/07/08   68.   All options are always on the table, including 21:11  |  Iranian-American 24/07/08   69.