ABCNews--Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Washington must never take the military option off the table and do everything in its power to bring the Iranian government down.
Rice told This Week political affairs program of ABC television network on Sunday that the US should consider even tougher penalties against Iran's government and “be doing everything we can to bring it down.”
She stressed that the US should never take the option of military force off the table when it comes to dealing with Iran, AP reported.
The US and its allies have intensified their anti-Iran rhetoric ahead of the IAEA report on the country's nuclear program.
On November 4, Israeli President Shimon Peres said that an attack on Iran was becoming increasingly more likely.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Knesset October 31 in an effort to garner support for a military attack on Iran over its nuclear program.
Supported by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu argued that Israel should proceed with efforts to encourage the West to exert more economic and political pressure on Iran.
He also emphasized that any action against Iran should be carried out in full coordination with the United States.
Israel, which is widely believed to possess over 300 atomic warheads, along with the US accuses Tehran of pursuing a military nuclear program.
Under pressure from Washington and Tel Aviv, the UN Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions against Tehran. Washington and the European Union have also adopted unilateral measures against Iran's energy sector.
While Israel refuses to allow inspections of its nuclear facilities or to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty based on its policy of nuclear ambiguity, Iran is a signatory to the NPT and has been subjected to snap International Atomic Energy Agency inspections due to its policy of nuclear transparency.
Israel has recently test fired a new long-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The test was carried out at the Palmahim air base in central Israel.
This three-stage Jericho-3 missile which is capable of delivering a 750-kilo warhead to a distance, is estimated to have a range of up to 10,000 kilometers.
Paradoxically, the new nuke-capable missile, which can target many parts of the globe, is not considered a threat in the eyes of the West.
Posted By: Siebra Muhammad
Tuesday, November 8th 2011 at 12:47PM
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