Use of force against Iran is on agenda, warns bullish Rumsfeld

The Scotsman
Feb. 06, 2006

AMERICAN military action against Iran because of its nuclear ambitions is still an option, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has warned.

With Iran remaining defiant in the face of international pressure over its atomic programme - it yesterday ended snap United Nations inspections of its atomic sites - Mr Rumsfeld upped the stakes, describing Iran as a "main sponsor" of terrorist groups.

A senior Iran defence official added to the tough talk yesterday with a senior military commander saying its forces would teach any attackers "a lesson that will be remembered throughout history".

And Iranian MPs agreed yesterday to urgently debate a parliamentary bill that would put restrictions on the sale of "unnecessary" American goods sold in the country in response to US stance on its nuclear ambitions.

Iran was reported to the UN Security Council on Saturday after failing to allay suspicions that it is seeking nuclear weapons. However, despite the rhetoric, there were signs that Iran, which insists its nuclear programme is designed only to produce energy, may be starting to look for a way out of the crisis.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said it would discuss a proposal that Iranian uranium could be enriched in Russia to ensure it was not turned into weapons-grade material.

Mr Rumsfeld, who attended a weekend security conference in Munich, Germany, made no bones about the seriousness of the situation.

"All options - including the military one - are on the table," he told a German newspaper. "Any government that says Israel has no right to exist is making a statement about its possible behaviour in the future."

At the conference, Mr Rumsfeld accused Tehran of being behind international terrorism. "Iran is the main sponsor of terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas," he said.

His belligerent tone was echoed by Abdolrahim Moussavi, the Iranian head of the joint chiefs of staff, who told Iranian troops yesterday: "We are not seeking a military confrontation, but if that happens we will give the enemy a lesson that will be remembered throughout history.

"This nation has proved its will many times to its enemies. Why do they want to test this great nation once again?"

Iran is armed with an unknown number of Shahab-3 ballistic missiles that could reach Israel and US bases in the Gulf, and coupled with nuclear warheads would give it the ability to fulfil President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's desire to "wipe Israel off the map".

Mr Ahmadinejad said nothing could deflect Tehran's pursuit of atomic know-how.

"Our enemies cannot do a damn thing. We do not need you at all. But you are in need of the Iranian nation," he told a crowd in Tehran yesterday. Content yourself with as many resolutions as you like, you cannot prevent the will of the Iranian people."

Iran has warned that any sanctions against it would send oil prices beyond a level industrialised economies could bear.

However, there was a glimpse of a compromise yesterday. On Saturday, Iran had declared dead a proposal by Moscow that Russia could enrich Iranian uranium for use in power stations, but yesterday Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iranian officials would meet with Russian counterparts to discuss the idea.

"The situation has changed. Still, we will attend talks with Russia on 16 February," he said.

It was not clear if the change of course represented a major shift in Iran's strategy in the developing crisis over its nuclear activities.

Uranium enriched to a low degree is used as fuel for nuclear reactors. But highly enriched uranium is suitable for making atomic bombs.