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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
U.S. readies for attack on Iran
Diplomatic solution preferred: envoy
JERUSALEM -- The U.S. has plans to attack Iran if necessary to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons, Washington's envoy to Israel said, days ahead of a crucial round of nuclear talks with Tehran.
Dan Shapiro's message resonated Thursday far beyond the closed forum in which it was made: Iran should not test Washington's resolve to act on its promise to strike if diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Tehran to abandon its disputed nuclear program.
Shapiro told the Israel Bar Association the U.S. hopes it will not have to resort to military force.
"But that doesn't mean that option is not fully available. Not just available, but it's ready," he said. "The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it's ready."
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, such as energy production. The U.S. and Israel suspect Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, but differences have emerged in how to persuade Tehran to curb its program.
Washington says diplomacy and economic sanctions must be given a chance to run its course, and is taking the lead in ongoing talks between six global powers and Iran.
Israel, while saying it would prefer a diplomatic solution, has expressed skepticism about the talks and says time is running out for military action to be effective.
U.S. President Barack Obama has assured Israel the U.S. is prepared to take military action if necessary, and it is standard procedure for armies to draw up plans for a broad range of possible scenarios. But Shapiro's comments were the most explicit sign yet that preparations have been stepped up.
Shapiro acknowledged the clock is ticking. "We do believe there is time. Some time, not an unlimited amount of time," Shapiro said. "But at a certain point, we may have to make a judgment that the diplomacy will not work."
The U.S. envoy spoke on Tuesday. The Associated Press obtained a recording of his remarks on Thursday.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are gearing up to for a May 23 meeting with Iran in Baghdad. Shortly after the meeting, the UN atomic agency is to release its latest report card on Iran's nuclear efforts.
In Tehran on Thursday, top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili warned against western pressure at next week's talks, which are a followup to negotiations in Istanbul last month that all sides praised as positive.
"Co-operation is what we can talk about in Baghdad," Jalili said in comments broadcast on Iranian state TV.
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 18, 2012 A22
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