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Last update - 14:08 06/06/2009
Lieberman: Israel has no plans to attack Iran
By Haaretz Service and Agencies
Tags: Israel News 

Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said on Wednesday his government has no plans to attack Iran.

"Israel is not planning to bomb Iran," Lieberman told reporters in Moscow. The foreign minister is currently in Moscow for talks with Russian leaders.

The new Israeli government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has placed the Iranian nuclear program at the top of his agenda.
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Netanyahu views the prospect of Iran attaining a nuclear military capability as an existential threat to Israel, thus raising fears worldwide that Jerusalem will resort to military action to halt or delay the Islamic regime's plans.

"We do not have a need" to carry out attacks on Iran, he said. "Israel is a strong country and we can defend ourselves."

Lieberman added that Iran is the main factor behind instability in the Middle East, adding: "This is not an Israeli problem."

"But the world should understand that the Iran's entrance into the nuclear club would prompt a whole arms race, a crazy race of unconventional weaponry across the Mideast that is a threat to the entire world order, a challenge to the whole international community," he said. "So we do not want a global problem to be solved with our hands."

The comments appeared to be a slight softening from recent statements made by Netanyahu's government that have suggested Israel might be forced to take military action against Iran.

On Tuesday, Moscow said it will demand that Iran commit to utilizing its nuclear program for civilian purposes only.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Lieberman on Tuesday that his government will insist that Tehran utilize its nuclear program for peaceful purposes.

"We have confirmed the need to assure the international community of the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program," Lavrov said, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.

Lieberman expressed concerns about Russian arms supplies to Iran, and said that he had been assured such sales would only take place if it did not affect the "regional balance of power."

Lavrov said the new U.S. administration's approach to Iran has increased chances of resolving the standoff over its nuclear program, but gave no indication of whether Moscow would increase pressure on Tehran.

Speaking after meeting with Lieberman, he also ceded no ground publicly over Russia's engagement with the violent group Hamas, which has angered Israel.

Lieberman also met with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on Tuesday in the Russian capital.

During Lieberman's meeting with Lavrov earlier, the Russian foreign minister said his government would demand an explicit Iranian commitment that its nuclear program be geared for civilian purposes only.

Lieberman's talks focused on the Iranian nuclear program given the fact that Russia plays a key role as the primary supplier of nuclear equipment. In addition, it is currently opposed to levying additional sanctions against Tehran.

The foreign minister said that if dialogue with the Tehran regime fails, then the international community will have to employ more aggressive means to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Israel wants Russia to use its close relationship with Iran to pressure Tehran to stop nuclear activities it believes are aimed at developing weapons.

Lavrov said he told Lieberman about steps Russia is taking along with other UN Security Council members and Germany, but he said nothing about any efforts by Moscow itself.

He said Russia and the other nations "expect a constructive answer" from Tehran on proposals aimed toward reviving negotiations.

"We really have a very good chance now, in part due to the position of the new U.S. administration," Lavrov said.


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      1.   Thank God! 13:20  |  Josh 03/06/09
      2.   trying to sell russia into the attack iran boat 13:33  |  muslim-- 03/06/09
      3.   "... no plans to attack Iran ..." ?! 14:30  |  Esther 03/06/09
      4.   Wink, wink 14:35  |  Bazmann 03/06/09
      5.   You don`t need U235 for civilian purposes 14:48  |  Rafé 03/06/09
      6.   This is all pre-Iranian election theatre 15:39  |  Mark Leaman 03/06/09
      7.   Nuclear Iran is a huge threat to russia 15:41  |  Abuya 03/06/09
      8.   Liberman Israel and the Iranian "get off free" 15:50  |  DT 03/06/09
      9.   Israel is castrated when it comes to Iran 15:56  |  Aounist 03/06/09
      10.   Lieberman and the Russians 16:45  |  Chappaqua neighbor 03/06/09
      11.   Iran will have Terrorists Proxies Smuggle Bomb in to America 16:53  |  UsedToPostHere 03/06/09
      12.   hope 16:55  |  ehud 03/06/09
      13.   Israel has no plans to attack Iran 17:05  |  mauro buffolo 03/06/09
      14.   nuclear so what 17:07  |  oz 03/06/09
      15.   Never believe a Politician 17:13  |  Neutered Observer. 03/06/09
      16.   Radical muslims and a A-Bomb??? U r kidding 17:20  |  Leonard 03/06/09
      17.   The road to mideast peace runs through Moscow 18:04  |  Voice of Reason 03/06/09
      18.   Attack on Iran ? Conventionally speaking 18:30  |  Arnold 03/06/09
      19.   Russia Iran relations 18:30  |  ehud 03/06/09
      20.   NO ENTRANCE INTO THE NUCLEAR CLUB 20:44  |  Ed 03/06/09
      21.   Very smart 20:50  |  Frank 03/06/09
      22.   What incredible rubbish 21:04  |  bernard ross 03/06/09
      23.   Iran has said this already 21:20  |  Wile E. Coyote 03/06/09
      24.   No attack 21:26  |  NOEL 03/06/09
      25.   I think we should all attack each other simultaneously 21:37  |  H 03/06/09
      26.   #7 Abuya 22:06  |  Chris linthwaite 03/06/09
      27.   Now is on Europeans and Arab diner plate, let them choke on it 22:25  |  Mark C 03/06/09
      28.   Perhaps Lieberman 22:35  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/06/09
      29.   Israel has no plans; the status quo works 01:28  |  American in NY 04/06/09
      30.   Rafé #5 you are talking through your hat 02:27  |  Rod 04/06/09
      31.   Israel is already attacking Iran 02:29  |  T. Traub 04/06/09
      32.   reminds me of the Ribbentrop trip to Moscow 02:34  |  American in NY 04/06/09
      33.   Lieberman 04:02  |  K 04/06/09
      34.   Lieberman is being diplomatic 04:33  |  Brod 04/06/09
      35.   In fact, Lieberman MADE the Plans to Attack Iran 05:18  |  UsedToPostHere 09/06/09
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