Authorized by Sharon:
Israel Plans To Hit Natanz Plant
ONDON, March 13--Israel has drawn up plans for a combined air
and ground attack on Iranian nuclear installations if diplomacy fails
to halt Tehran's atomic program, London's Sunday Times said.
The newspaper said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and
his inner cabinet had given "initial authorization" for a unilateral
attack on Iran at a private meeting last month, Reuters reported.
US officials have indicated they would not stand in Israel's way if
international diplomatic efforts to halt Iran's nuclear projects fail,
the paper said.
Tehran, which does not recognize the Jewish state, says its nuclear
activities are aimed only at electricity generation but Washington and
the European Union suspect Iran could use its program to make atomic
bombs.
The Sunday Times said Israeli tactics included raids by elite commando
units and air strikes by F-15 jets using bunker-busting bombs to
penetrate underground facilities.
It said Israeli forces had been simulating attacks on a mock-up of
Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment plant in the last few months.
Israel, which says Iran is very close to being able to make a nuclear
bomb, played down the report.
Asked if there was a possibility that Israel could attack Iranian nuclear
installations, Vice Premier Shimon Peres said: "I don't think so."Israel
is believed to be the only country in the region with nuclear weapons,
though it has not confirmed or denied their existence.Israeli warplanes
bombed Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in a daring raid in 1981 to prevent
it from making atomic bombs.Tehran says it is prepared to confront any
threats and that it would protect its nuclear sites.
"We will defend our nuclear sites with all our strength and we are ready
to ward off any possible aggression," Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani
told the semi-official ISNA students news agency on Saturday.
