Israel: Cheney’s Message Directed at Europe
According to Israeli officials, Cheney’s statement was not directed at Israel but rather at European countries as a warning that they should put tighter measures in place regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.
Cheney joined an MSNBC program on Thursday (January 20) where he said Iran is at the top of a US list of the world’s most dangerous places and that Israel could be the first to intervene in Iran in order to prevent a possible nuclear threat from Iran.
"This statement aimed at the Europeans says if you do not play a big part in applying sanctions and do not move quickly to stop Iran’s nuclear program, we will not be held responsible for what Israel will do," said a high-level Israeli official.
The same official said that Israel is following the US position on Iran very closely and fully supports international sanctions and pressure on Iran. In 2003, Israel was fiercely critical of Iran for testing Shahab-3 missiles with the capability to carry nuclear-biologic warheads and a 1,300 kilometer range that could reach Israel.
Western intelligence sources say even though United Nations (UN) officials conducted investigations in Iran and possibly have failed to realize such studies, Tehran may have nuclear research program.
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw has said, meanwhile, that he hopes to succeed in finding a diplomatic solution. His Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov referred to Bush’s statement and he said, "Bush’s speech was about solving the problem through political channels. We all agree with that view."
