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Last update - 13:52 23/06/2008 Official in Tehran: Israel is incapable of threatening Iran By Reuters Tags: Iran, sanctions, EU Iran said on Monday Israel could not threaten it, a few days after a U.S. newspaper reported that Israel's air force had apparently rehearsed a potential bombing raid of Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran and Israel have engaged in a sharp exchange of words this month over suspicions Tehran is looking to develop nuclear weapons, helping to push global oil prices higher. "They do not have the capacity to threaten the Islamic Republic of Iran," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told a news conference. Advertisement He was asked about a New York Times report on Friday that quoted U.S. officials as saying Israeli jets conducted a long-range Mediterranean exercise this month that appeared to be a practice for a mission against Iran. "They (Israel) have a number of domestic crises and they want to extrapolate it to cover others. Sometimes they come up with these empty slogans," Hosseini said in comments translated by Iran's English-language Press TV satellite station. Iran's defense minister on Sunday accused Israel of "psychological warfare", but said Tehran would give a "devastating" response to any attack. On Friday, the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, said a military strike on Iran would turn the Middle East into a fireball and prompt Tehran to launch a crash course to build nuclear weapons. EU set to agree to new sanctions The European Union is scheduled to agree a new round of sanctions against Iran on Monday over its refusal to meet international demands to curb its nuclear program, the EU's Slovenian presidency said. "They are on the agenda to be adopted today," a presidency official said of a two-day meeting of EU ministers in Luxembourg starting on Monday. The 27-member bloc has not yet detailed the mew measures but EU diplomats have said they will target the financial sector and notably Iran's biggest bank, Bank Melli, with an asset and funds freeze. The application of further sanctions on Iran was placed on the agenda of EU ministers as a so-called "A Point", meaning its adoption is a virtual formality. The United States and the EU agreed this month they were ready to supplement UN sanctions with further measures aimed at ensuring Iranian banks could not support proliferation and terror activities. Iran rejects international suspicions it is seeking the atom bomb and has pursued uranium enrichment as part of what it says is a peaceful nuclear program. Iran said on Monday it was encouraged by common points between its and world powers' separate proposals aimed at defusing a nuclear dispute, but again dismissed any suggestion of suspending uranium enrichment. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Tehran was studying an offer of economic and other incentives by six major powers, which are trying to convince Iran to halt activity the West suspects is aimed at making bombs. But he did not say when Iran would respond to the incentives proposal by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, Germany and France, which was handed to Tehran by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on June 14. The Islamic Republic has put forward its own package of proposals aimed at resolving the row, but diplomats say it ignores global concern about its enrichment program, which can have both military and civilian uses. "We believe this common ground is encouraging," Hosseini told a news conference without elaborating. "We say that this common ground can help with the start of negotiations." "Time is ripe for these talks and we should not lose this opportunity," he said in comments translated by Iran's Press TV satellite station. "We feel that compared to years past there is a more pronounced serious will on the side of the other party." The incentives package offered by the sextet is an updated version of one rejected by Iran in 2006. Hosseini said Iran would respond to the incentives offer, which includes help in developing a civilian nuclear program and trade benefits, at an "appropriate time" and that it expected the six powers to study Tehran's proposals as well. U.S. light crude for August delivery rose on Monday, partly on concerns over a report that Israel's air force had rehearsed a possible bombing run against Iran's nuclear facilities. Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected stopping enriching uranium as a precondition for negotiations. Their refusal to do so has drawn three rounds of United Nations sanctions since 2006 and Western powers have warned of more punitive measures if Iran rejects the latest offer. "Suspension of enrichment has no logical reason behind it," Hosseini said. "We believe that no proposals should be made that lead to the Iranian nation being denied its rights." The United States says it is focusing on diplomatic pressure to thwart Tehran's nuclear ambitions but has not ruled out military action as a last resort. The New York Times on Friday quoted U.S. officials as saying Israel, which is believed to have nuclear weapons of its own, had carried out a large military exercise, apparently a rehearsal for a potential bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities. Iran's defense minister was quoted on Sunday as saying his country would give a "devastating" response to any attack and the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, has warned a strike on Iran would turn the Middle East into a fireball. Related articles: Iran threatens 'devastating' response if attacked by Israel ANALYSIS / An Israeli strike on Iran is still on the agenda Iran, fearing sanctions, said to have pulled $75b from EU banks Bookmark to del.icio.us   A fateful week We shall see whether the truce will help bring Gilad Shalit home. Munich anticipated? A German professor says Israeli athletes willfully sacrificed themselves.   1.   Too little too late 12:26  |  Genuine Tosefta 23/06/08   2.   Time for sanctions is over : It?s time to act! 12:44  |  Jean Van Daem 23/06/08   3.   Irans comments too late... Israel already threatened Iran. 14:20  |  x 23/06/08   4.   Iran not paying attention 14:41  |  inisrael 23/06/08   5.   THE MULLAHS should get their stories together first 14:42  |  PETER SM 23/06/08   6.   If Israel is incapable of threatening Iran - ignore Israel 14:43  |  x-ray 23/06/08   7.   iran and israel 15:06  |  XYZ 23/06/08   8.   Iranian newspaper closed down for criticising anti-Israel policy 15:08  |  Realist 23/06/08   9.   Iranian newspaper closed down for criticising anti-Israel policy 15:08  |  Realist 23/06/08   10.   Who thinks there is time for the Iranian people to save themselve 15:19  |  from this madman? 23/06/08   11.   Israel is just talking the talk and can never walk the walk 15:35  |  Persian Hero 23/06/08   12.   Again, those enabling the Mullahs to dream 15:38  |  Jew- and Bookburner 23/06/08   13.   Re: Persian Hero 16:04  |  23/06/08   14.   Once Iran is attacked, Israel will be the frist to be wiped out 16:37  |  anti-racist 23/06/08   15.   Persian coward #11 16:51  |  x-ray 23/06/08   16.   Israeli Government are Trying to Instigate a War 16:53  |  Concerned individual 23/06/08   17.   # 16, No more than the American Government, and many others. 16:57  |  Israel is not alone. 23/06/08   18.   #13 17:01  |  Persian Hero 23/06/08   19.   #11, persian comedian... 17:06  |  DR 23/06/08   20.   LONG LIVE AHMEDINEJAD!! 17:09  |  indrajaya 23/06/08   21.   #14, more like anti-logic! 17:11  |  DR 23/06/08   22.   #19 17:24  |  harald 23/06/08   23.   Olmert and livni and Netanyahu are going to war what a joke 17:26  |  Muslim 23/06/08   24.   Re: #18 17:32  |  American 23/06/08   25.   Bark is worse than their Bite 17:37  |  Matthew 23/06/08   26.   Iranian regime trie sto reassure 17:51  |  Khosrow 23/06/08   27.   Persian hero relying on Syria to do his fighting for him 17:56  |  Realist 23/06/08   28.   # 20, FAKE INDRAJAYA 18:52  |  indrajaya 23/06/08   29.   time for illegal bombings without evidence, US-UN protected 19:03  |  smart 23/06/08   30.   Iran was incapable of threatening Iraq` Saddam 19:20  |  belou 23/06/08   31.   THEY START TO SOUND 19:48  |  Robert 23/06/08   32.   14 anti-racist racist 20:07  |  Harry 23/06/08   33.   Re:#27 20:08  |  Persian Hero 23/06/08   34.   # 20, 28 : FAKE INDRAJAYA 20:27  |  indrajaya 23/06/08   35.   Persian Hero #33 20:34  |  Dan 23/06/08   36.   After Israel destroys Irans military, and nuclear sites 20:36  |  Avram 23/06/08   37.   #36 Say Avram 20:55  |  ballistic 23/06/08   38.   "Islamic totalitarian world empire...." #8 Realist 21:36  |  Iranian-American 23/06/08   39.   Another mad bugger # 36 21:51  |  Clickfool 23/06/08   40.   Persian hero 33 21:51  |  Realist 23/06/08   41.   Really? 22:23  |  Mark Lincoln 23/06/08   42.   #36 22:55  |  Roland 23/06/08   43.   "Jews have no problem with Persian people and never have." 23:25  |  Iranian-American 23/06/08   44.   "Iran is full of wonderful intelligent people" #36 23:33  |  Iranian-American 23/06/08   45.   Iraqis were too ignorant to take the opportunity to create... 23:53  |  Avram 23/06/08   46.   #40 00:00  |  Persian Hero 24/06/08   47.   #40 Realist 00:16  |  ballistic 24/06/08   48.   in case no one`s noticed: IRAN WANTS IT! 00:43  |  eric 24/06/08   49.   above 01:02  |  moishe 24/06/08   50.   So Why Did Iran React Hysterically? 01:58  |  Brad 24/06/08   51.   to #11 -- Oi Wei! --end 02:01  |  Oleg 24/06/08   52.   Mutual destruction 02:19  |  Bretware 24/06/08   53.   To all 02:59  |  indrajaya 24/06/08   54.   #36 War mongering zionists 04:03  |  benham 24/06/08   55.   #21, Israel is warmonger in chief 04:12  |  benham 24/06/08   56.   The equation remains the same. 05:07  |  Johnboy 24/06/08   57.   #45 Avram gives a glimse into the zionist/neocon mind 13:18  |  Johnboy 24/06/08   58.   #48 Hi there Eric 19:46  |  ballistic 24/06/08   59.   # 58 to ballistic 09:48  |  eric 25/06/08   60.   #59 Eric 22:56  |  ballistic 25/06/08   61.   # 60 to ballistic 08:22  |  eric 26/06/08   62.   Israel is able to blokade strait of hormuz 12:37  |  tega 26/06/08   63.   #62 Say Tega 21:55  |  ballistic 26/06/08

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