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Last update - 20:37 25/11/2008
Olmert: U.S. never advised Israel to use restraint against Iran
By Haaretz Service
Tags: tzipi livni, iran 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday the United States has not advised Israel to restrain itself from taking any action it deemed necessary against Iran's nuclear program.

But the outgoing Israeli leader, who held farewell talks with U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday, stopped short, in a briefing to reporters, of making any threat to strike Iran.

"I can't recall that anyone in the [U.S.] administration, including in the last couple of days, advised me or any of my official representatives not to take any action that we will deem necessary for the fundamental security of the state of Israel, and that includes Iran," Olmert said.
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Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Tuesday that Iran has been sneaking terror elements into South America with the intention of expanding its field of ideological, political and economic activity, Israel Radio reported.

During talks in Jerusalem with her El Salvadoran counterpart, Marisol Argueta de Barillas, Livni said that the ties between South American guerilla movements and Iranian terror organizations have been sharpening and could be easily observed.

She added that Iran was constantly seeking political assistance from states around the world to break the international sanctions placed against it over its contentious nuclear program.

The Foreign Ministry said in an evaluation released last year that it was concerned about Iran's activities in South America, including a high number of embassy officials who could be taking part in terror.

While on a visit to Tehran earlier this month, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim gave Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a letter from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva proposing the two leaders meet. A Brazilian Foreign Ministry official said the letter was not a formal invitation, rather a suggestion that talks begin for a presidential visit.

The defense establishment has for years seen the border areas between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil as a focus of Iranian and Hezbollah terror. Iran, meanwhile, has opened embassies in Nicaragua, Ecuador and Chile, and increased commercial ties and visits by senior officials. Iran has also enlarged its missions in Venezuela, Uruguay, Mexico and Colombia.

The Foreign Ministry said in its 2007 evaluation that these embassies have an "astronomical number" of diplomats, in no proportion to their needs. In Nicaragua, for example, there are 30 Iranian diplomats, with a similar number in Venezuela and other countries. Israel fears that these are intelligence operatives also involved in terror.

Jerusalem is also concerned at the emerging alliance between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, particularly with regard to uranium and oil sales.

Israel has told some Latin American countries that Iran is endangering world peace through terror and its nuclear program. Some of the countries share Israel's concerns and have asked for intelligence and counter-terror assistance.

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      1.   Livni thinks all countries opperate the same as 19:27  |  zio-land 25/11/08
      2.   Yeah right 20:27  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/11/08
      3.   Olmert has done enough on his own 20:44  |  Arie 25/11/08
      4.   Olmert being economical with the truth 21:12  |  Clickfool 25/11/08
      5.   Either bombs in Israel or Tehran 21:47  |  Clint 25/11/08
      6.   4 Clickfool 22:05  |  Jose Marcio 25/11/08
      7.   Iran`s terrorist claws in Latin America 22:13  |  Fortuna Benmayor 25/11/08
      8.   It is a pretty good guess what The Dim Bulb Duo discussed 22:15  |  Mark Lincoln 25/11/08
      9.   Jose Marcio? in Brazil? i would expect them in Venesuala or Peru 22:21  |  but Brazil? 25/11/08
      10.   Both USA and Israel won`t dare to. 22:27  |  Najeeb 25/11/08
      11.   GO try it 23:03  |  Fahim 25/11/08
      12.   Chris Linthwaite 23:32  |  rich 25/11/08
      13.   No, No, and SOFA 00:07  |  Jim 26/11/08
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      15.   #9 00:49  |  An American 26/11/08
      16.   CFOOL Comprehension problems?US not wishing to get involved & not 01:38  |  PETER SM 26/11/08
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