Russia ex-PM: Israeli strike will force Iran to make own weapons of mass destructionAugust 8, 2012 - 12:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities are possible but in case they are delivered they will have small impact on Iran and on the contrary will push Tehran into producing weapons of mass destruction, former Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov told Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily, according to RIA Novosti. “The United States does not want this airstrike to be delivered before the presidential election. They [the U.S.] are restraining Israel. But we must understand that both American and Israeli administrations have various [political] forces that express different positions,” Primakov, who is also an expert on the Middle East, said. Primakov said Iran is capable to recover in two years in case it is subjected to an airstrike, but after this period Tehran will withdraw from the Nuclear Weapons Non-proliferationTreaty and will start making its own weapons of mass destruction. Israel and Western powers suspect Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its program is of a civilian nature. Israel has recently stepped up its verbal threats to attack Iran if it does not abandon its nuclear ambitions. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |