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Last update - 19:21 08/03/2009
MI chief: Iran has crossed 'technological threshold' in quest for nukes
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Tags: Israel News, Iran 

Military Intellience chief Amos Yadlin said Sunday at the weekly cabinet meeting that "Iran has crossed the technological threshold" in its quest for nuclear arms.

"Arrival at military nuclear capability is a matter of strategy," Yadlin said. "Iran is accumulating hundreds of kilograms of enriched uranium at a low level and hopes to utilize the dialogue with the West in order to gain time, which is required in order to achieve the capability to manufacture a nuclear bomb."

Yadlin stressed that the American government's new approach of dialogue with Iran is being treated with caution in the Middle East.
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"The moderate Arab states think this will come at their cost and will be used for negative purposes by Iran and Syria, who are dragging out time with the appearance of talks but are continuing to arm themselves and to support terrorism," Yadlin said. "The extremist axis hopes the U.S. will change its stance, but they suspect that it is a step that will only advance the formulation of a more efficient coalition against them."

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported on Sunday that Iran has test-fired a new air-to-surface missile, in the Islamic Republic's latest display of its military capability.

The missile test was carried out despite the offer by the administration of new U.S. President Barack Obama to engage Iran in direct talks if it "unclenches its fist".

Iran's Fars News Agency said the domestically produced missile had a range of 110 km (70 miles) and was designed for use by military aircraft against naval targets.

"Now these jet fighters have acquired a new capability in confronting threats," the semi-official news agency said. Iran's Press TV initially said a long-range missile had been tested, but later also used Fars' way of describing it.

Iran often stages war games or tests weapons to show its determination to counter any attack by foes including Israel and the United States, which accuse the Islamic Republic of seeking to develop nuclear bombs. Tehran denies the charge.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the Iranian press reports.

A top Iranian military commander last week said that Iranian missiles could now reach Israeli nuclear sites. Iran has often said it has missiles able to reach Israel but had not previously mentioned such specific targets.

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      1.   Iran 2009. The roar of the Lion. 15:21  |  Stephen. 08/03/09
      2.   Iran`s missile 16:46  |  Brod 08/03/09
      3.   Iran doesn`t need a war. It needs deterrence. 17:13  |  Lou Medel 08/03/09
      4.   Iran 17:53  |  me 08/03/09
      5.   Iranian Nukes 18:20  |  Straight talk 08/03/09
      6.   Iranian nukes 18:30  |  Mandelarab 08/03/09
      7.   Thanks to Neoconservatives 18:34  |  Iranian 08/03/09
      8.   For Stephen in Geneva # 1 18:34  |  Clickfool 08/03/09
      9.   Iran 18:45  |  Jim Buba 08/03/09
      10.   Iran 18:52  |  James 08/03/09
      11.   Stephen: The 3:30 call will be too late 19:08  |  Brad 08/03/09
      12.   Don`t be perplexed 19:16  |  Robert Wheeldon 08/03/09
      13.   Not Perplexed 19:22  |  yomama 08/03/09
      14.   quest for nukes 19:28  |  Ralph 08/03/09
      15.   Israel is in grave danger 19:50  |  Michael A. Shoemaker 08/03/09
      16.   Iran 20:05  |  American 08/03/09
      17.   Russia today is the same bear of yesterday ! 20:08  |  Akram Zekaria 08/03/09
      18.   To Stephen #1 `Iran 2009.` 21:05  |  Colin Wright 08/03/09
      19.   #17 Zekaria Russia supplying WMD`s to Iran and Syria? 21:43  |  Lou Medel 08/03/09
      20.   #19, I notice you didn`t mention Iran 01:13  |  Shlomo 09/03/09
      21.   An eye for an eye 02:16  |  Fayad 09/03/09
      22.   Iran refuses to unclench it`s fist 02:23  |  ZAZ 09/03/09
      23.   It appears we have a failure to communicate 03:10  |  `Doc` Holiday 09/03/09
      24.   Iran is a Paper Tiger 03:20  |  Baruch Gold 09/03/09
      25.   #3, LOU MEDEL, i agree 100% 03:33  |  VIPER 09/03/09
      26.   Now what then? 04:00  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/03/09
      27.   19Lou Medel Tell me when US sells Israel or any country nukes ? 07:40  |  Akram Zekaria 09/03/09
      28.   19~Leou Medal : Please re read my post. (3rd try) 09:22  |  Akram Zekaria 09/03/09
      29.   Baruch Gold from America 18:17  |  Tiger 09/03/09
      30.   Iran 21:35  |  ks 09/03/09
      31.   #27 Zekaria 21:48  |  Lou Medel 09/03/09
      32.   MEDEL Iran needs a war to remove Israel as per Ahmadinejad 23:37  |  PETER SM 09/03/09
      33.   what is the big deal? Israel crossed it along time ago, leading 02:31  |  American in NY 10/03/09
      34.   AM In NY Problem1 Iran is a signatory to the NPT 03:13  |  PETER SM 10/03/09
      35.   Peter SM # 34 No problem 14:16  |  American in NY 10/03/09
      36.   31~Medel You are playing havoc with the truth ! 21:32  |  Akram Zekaria 11/03/09
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