Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday denied reports that the United States had cautioned Israel against attacking Iranian nuclear sites in an effort to roll back the country's potential nuclear-weapon development activities, Agence France-Presse reported. (see GSN, Sept. 25).
Olmert told journalists that he discussed the ongoing dispute over Iran's nuclear work "at length" this week with U.S. President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Iran has rebuffed international suspicions about its nuclear program, which it insists is a strictly peaceful endeavor.
"There is a basic, deep understanding about the Iranian threat and the need to act in order to remove threat," Olmert after meeting with George W. Bush. "I don't remember that anyone in the administration, including in the last couple of days, advised me or any other of my official representatives not to take any action that we will deem necessary for the fundamental security of the state of Israel, and that includes Iran" (Agence France-Presse/Google News, Nov. 25).
Meanwhile, Iran yesterday said that one alleged member of a busted Israeli spy network had ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the Associated Press reported. Tehran on Monday announced the arrest of three individuals allegedly trained by Israeli intelligence agents to spy on Iranian nuclear work and other activities.
According to Tehran General Prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi, the spy ring was established after Israel's Mossad intelligence service began working with a man who had "previously been in connection with the Guards," Iranian state media reported. The man was detained roughly six months ago, according to the report.
The group plotted to attack Iranian military facilities and kill Iranian military analysts, Mortazavi added.
"Since Israel is the enemy of the Iranian people, the prosecutor's office will ask for their execution," he said, noting that the Iranian Guard would finish a probe into the case pending an upcoming trial.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry denied having knowledge of the spy network. "Israel has no information about this matter and does not intend to comment on every unverifiable item that is published," spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
Iranian state television displayed an oscilloscope, Global Positioning System gear, a satellite telephone and a laser range-finder said to have been possessed by the alleged spy ring.
Earlier in November, Iran executed an electronics merchant found guilty of supplying the Mossad with information on Iranian nuclear efforts, AP reported (Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Nov. 25).