World

Israel 'would consider Iran attack'

September 22, 2009 12:44
Israel would consider an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities
1 min read

Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister has said it would not rule out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, despite alleged assurances to the contrary to Russia.

Danny Ayalon said: "I don't think that, with all due respect, the Russian President [Dmitry Medvedev] is authorised to speak for Israel and certainly we have not taken any option off the table."

Echoing Mr Ayalon's sentiments, IDF chief Lt Gen Gabi Ashkenazi stressed that Israel had "the right to defend itself and all options are on the table".

Mr Medvedev recently released the transcript of a conversation where he alleges Israel’s President Shimon Peres had denied his country had any intention of attacking Iran. Mr Medvedev said an attack would be the worst kind of humanitarian disaster possible.

Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to raise Israel’s concerns about Iran in a speech to the general assembly of the United Nations in New York later this week.