Israel Iran Strike

A senior Pentagon official told ABC News on June 30, 2008, that Israel was prepared to launch a tactical strike on Iran in the near future.¹ On the same day, a senior Israeli politician told Germany's Der Spiegel that Israel was ready to attack to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.² On July 2, 2008, a Russian official said that an Israeli attack on Iran would be "catastrophic" for the Middle East. The official also reported that Iran would consider submitted proposals that Iran suspend its uranium enrichment programs.³

Fast Facts

1. Unnamed senior Pentagon official alleged that Israel was ready to strike¹
2. Official said if Iran enriched enough uranium for bomb, Israel would strike¹
3. Official said Israel may want to strike before air defense system in place¹
4. Other officials think Israel may want to strike before new United States president sworn in¹
5. U.S. State Department criticized comments by Pentagon official⁴
6. Israeli politician made similar comments to Der Spiegel²

The Coming Attack?

The Pentagon official told ABC News that Israel's recent military exercise was not a "rehearsal" but "basic, fundamental training" for a coordinated attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. The official identified two "red lines" that would make an attack on Iran imminent. First, if Iran's Natanz nuclear facility enriches enough uranium to make a nuclear bomb, then Israel may decide to attack. Second, Israel might decide to attack, according to the official, before Iran acquires the SA-20 air defense system it recently purchased from Russia.¹

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