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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meeting with Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan (not pictured) on Tuesday in Tehran. (Reuters) Last update - 20:55 05/12/2006 U.S.: Can't assure Israel that Iran won't attack By News Agencies Robert Gates, nominated to replace Donald Rumsfeld as U.S. defense secretary, on Tuesday said Iran was trying to acquire nuclear weapons and its leaders were lying when they said the program is strictly civilian. He said he was not sure Iran would attack Israel with such weapons because "the risks for them (Iran) are enormously high." But he also said the United States could not assure Israel that a nuclear attack by Iran would not happen. "I don't think anybody can provide that assurance," he told the committee. Advertisement When asked at the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination whether he believed Iran was seeking a nuclear weapons capability, he responded, "Yes, sir, I do." Asked if he believed Iran's leaders were lying, Gates responded, "Yes, sir." Iran says its nuclear work is aimed at generating electricity, but the West suspects Tehran is using the civilian program as cover to build an atomic bomb. Russia: Tough sanctions on Iran would backfire Tough sanctions on Iran to punish it for pursuing uranium enrichment would be counter-productive, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said before major powers met to discuss possible measures on Tuesday. "We believe it is irresponsible to impose these kind of sanctions," Lavrov told reporters on the margins of a meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Brussels. "We would achieve the opposite result if we do that," he said of Western efforts to get Russia and China to agree a UN Security Council resolution setting out penalties on Tehran for refusing to halt nuclear activities the West suspects are aimed at building an atom bomb - a goal Tehran denies. Ahmadinejad: Decisions against nuclear right are act of hostility Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday warned Europeans his country will consider any decision against its nuclear rights an act of "hostility." His statement came as political directors from United Nations Security Council permanent members Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States, as well as Germany were to attend the latest round of talks in Paris on the diplomatic impasse between the West and Iran over its nuclear program. "I'm telling you in plain language that as of now on, if you try, whether in your propaganda or at international organizations, to take steps against the rights of the Iranian nation, the Iranian nation will consider it an act of hostility," Ahmadinejad said, addressing thousands of people in northern Iran. "And if you insist on pursuing this path, it (Iran) will reconsider its relations with you," he warned European nations. "Our path to reach the nuclear summit is in the final phase, and no more than one more step is needed," Ahmadinejad told the rally. "Iran possesses the nuclear fuel cycle completely and by God's will it will undertake necessary measures to produce nuclear fuel for all of its nuclear power stations," he said. Despite Russia's refusal to agree to tough sanctions on Iran, the French foreign minister said Moscow is likely to back a decision to pressure Tehran on is nuclear plan. Russia has consistently refused to agree to measures that would be seen as a punishment of Tehran for its refusal to meet the August 31 UN deadline to abandon uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for nuclear power plants or atom bombs. French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said after talking with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Monday that progress had been made on the wording of a sanctions resolution. "I think that we can now reach an agreement on the text," he told reporters after meeting Lavrov on the sidelines of the OSCE meeting. "We are in agreement with Russia to adopt sanctions against the Iranian programme of proliferation." EU diplomats say the sanctions called for in the text will be largely symbolic. However, they say unanimous approval of even mild sanctions will send a strong signal to Tehran that the world is determined to stop Iran obtaining nuclear arms. Also Tuesday the country's nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said at a regional forum in Dubai that American "unilateralism" could cause more conflict in the Middle East Bookmark to del.icio.us   My three homelands French Vogue chose Lizzie Doron as one of Israel's influential authors. President Barghouti Jailed Tanzim leader says he's considering running in next PA presidential elections.   1.   Europe must do what is right, for humanity, not what Ahmadinejad 11:19  |  Nadav 05/12/06   2.   Yawn 11:29  |  Dani Reiss 05/12/06   3.   Keeping nuclear weapons from a Terrorist sponsor `hostile`? 11:34  |  Zuriel 05/12/06   4.   In other words: Oppose us in any way and you`ll suffer. 12:20  |  Dan 05/12/06   5.   Hasn`t Israel gone too far with Ahmadinejad ? 13:17  |  Yankelowitz 05/12/06   6.   To Dan (#3) 13:19  |  Curious 05/12/06   7.   Mr. Putin 13:26  |  Sarah 05/12/06   8.   to Curious 13:34  |  Wondering 05/12/06   9.   Europe 13:38  |  Watcher 05/12/06   10.   Mr Putin 13:41  |  Anubhav 05/12/06   11.   to Nadav 13:55  |  Jean-Paul Doguet 05/12/06   12.   Re: Mr Putin 13:57  |  Shlomo 05/12/06   13.   With A Wink, Wink 14:18  |  Victor Smolinsky 05/12/06   14.   Deep down, all await an Israeli preemptive strike 14:48  |  Paul Henzen 05/12/06   15.   Paternalism 15:07  |  Edith 05/12/06   16.   ahmadinejad is so right 15:17  |  Time`s analyser,jose 05/12/06   17.   iranian government suffering from megalomania 15:26  |  nolan 05/12/06   18.   Curious No.6 - You think he cares about killing muslims? 15:26  |  Dan 05/12/06   19.   Jean-Paul Doguet, you may be fed up with the comparisonsm, yet 15:57  |  Nadav 05/12/06   20.   # 5 16:03  |  Twogunz 05/12/06   21.   Lamed Ducks and Dead Ducks 16:39  |  Mark Lincoln 05/12/06   22.   when it comes to ideology they are enemies 17:12  |  Honi 05/12/06   23.   To # 20 comparing Iran with Iraq is foolish 17:30  |  Yankelowitz 05/12/06   24.   Ahmedinajad Or Salahedin- Israel in the heart of Muslim world 17:40  |  Noah 05/12/06   25.   #7 Sarah, You right on the dot. it was Europe that dialoged with 17:47  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 05/12/06   26.   Dumb and Dumber 18:21  |  Tony Anthony 05/12/06   27.   Russia Gov Must Think Everyone Else is as Stupid as it is. 18:44  |  Eli Wapniarski 05/12/06   28.   weak sanctions will mean a more vigorous Iranian nuclear program 19:20  |  r 05/12/06   29.   Go ahead, Israel, bomb Iran 19:56  |  Nathan 05/12/06   30.   #27 Eli Wapniarski, Rusian Gov. and Putin is not 20:15  |  Max Zinger,P.Chimist 05/12/06   31.   Putin 20:16  |  Nabil Estefan 05/12/06   32.   Yes, they`d backfire on Russian business contracts 20:19  |  David Teich 05/12/06   33.   #11 Jean-Paul Doguet, Alor we jaut base our perceptions from 20:31  |  Max Zinger 05/12/06   34.   jean-paul #11 20:47  |  albert amato 05/12/06   35.   Do it... 20:51  |  Liora Reznichenko 05/12/06   36.   Istrael lied too 20:53  |  hollingsworth 05/12/06   37.   Israeli Guinea Pig 20:53  |  Paulo 05/12/06   38.   Iran`s nuclear weapons program 20:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/12/06   39.   Advise to Israel: Talk Softly, But Carry A Big Stick 20:56  |  massaraksh 05/12/06   40.   And the US will not initiate military ops 20:57  |  Paul Freedman 05/12/06   41.   "Prove it, sir" 20:58  |  Clickfool 05/12/06   42.   #10, Anubhav 20:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/12/06   43.   Iran Will Do as They Please 21:02  |  Loren Barnett 05/12/06   44.   Question 21:16  |  Trevor 05/12/06   45.   US: Can`t assure Isreal... 21:25  |  Jakop 05/12/06   46.   Ahmadinajad or Slahedin ( or an Idiot ) - reply to Noah 21:34  |  Isem 05/12/06   47.   Europe must do more. 21:45  |  Anom 05/12/06   48.   No Assurances 21:50  |  Dre 05/12/06   49.   For Paul Henzen # 14 21:51  |  Clickfool 05/12/06   50.   Iran Nuclear capability 21:55  |  Zaki Mustafa 05/12/06   51.   For Cippy # 38, on Iran`s nuclear programme 21:59  |  Clickfool 05/12/06   52.   For Paul Freedman # 40 22:06  |  Clickfool 05/12/06   53.   #51, clicky 22:23  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/12/06   54.   US : Can´t be sure that Iran Won´t attack 22:24  |  Menashe Aron 05/12/06   55.   for Jakop & Clickfool 23:04  |  Loren Barnett 05/12/06   56.   Oh, is that so, Cipora? 23:22  |  hollingsworth 05/12/06   57.   meltdown 00:10  |  surprised 06/12/06   58.   #56, hollingsworth 00:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/12/06   59.   Green Light for Isreal- Bombs Away!!! 00:20  |  Confucious 06/12/06   60.   forget these camel jockeys 00:22  |  troy 06/12/06   61.   #53 00:24  |  GenghisChris 06/12/06   62.   i say we fist fight 00:26  |  troy 06/12/06   63.   Let The Neo-Cons Invade Iran 04:18  |  chasemonster 06/12/06   64.   #1 Hitler ,Stalin, now......Ahmadinejad 20:52  |  hollingsworth 06/12/06   65.   wow 05:07  |  mohammad abbas 19/03/08

Today Online Tom Segev: Merkel slams Qassams, but ignores Israel's actions Responses: 89 Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal for long-term Gaza truce Responses: 33 High Court closes off use of West Bank route to Palestinians Responses: 51 Study finds Israeli Jews increasingly racist toward Arabs Responses: 38 Security forces fear double Hezbollah attack in Israel, abroad Responses: 13 Rosner's Domain McCain rep to Jewish crowd: Christian right 'serious problem' Were Shakespeare's Plays Written By A Jewish Woman? (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: I used to believe that you just hated Hillary Poll: Is the "road map" still relevant? Did Iraq have ties to Al Qaeda? (WTR) More Headlines 10:05 Egypt brokering Hamas-Israel deal for long-term Gaza truce 10:07 Security forces fear double Hezbollah revenge attack in Israel, abroad 10:10 High Court closes off use of West Bank route to Palestinians 10:09 Study: Israeli Jews becoming increasingly racist toward Arabs 10:09 New Meretz chair: We won't join Olmert's government 10:00 U.S. slams Switzerland for signing huge gas deal with Iran 09:47 ANALYSIS: Merkel condemns Qassams, but ignores Israel's actions 10:06 Multidenominational rabbinical school to graduate its first class 08:09 Tel Aviv setting up tent city for African refugees 05:48 Merkel to Knesset: Germany will always stand by Israel 05:58 Charities dependent on dollar donations fear for future 08:04 Visa requirement for Russian tourists to be eliminated 02:56 Rubinstein Piano Competition / A perfect Haydn in stage II 08:51 U.S. presidential hopeful McCain set to meet PM, senior ministers Previous Editions Select Day 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar 07 mar 06 mar 05 mar

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