Defense Minister: Israel "very far off" from attacking Iran

PanARMENIAN.Net - Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Wednesday, Jan 18, that Israel is "very far off" from a decision about an attack on Iran over its nuclear program.

Barak was speaking on Israel's Army Radio ahead of a planned visit this week by the United States armed forces chief General Martin Dempsey that has fired speculation Washington would press Israel to delay any action against Tehran's nuclear program, Haaretz reported.

Dempsey will be arriving on his first visit since being appointed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September. He will meet with various senior defense officials, including Barak and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.

The intelligence assessment Israeli officials will present later this week to Dempsey indicates that Iran has not yet decided whether to make a nuclear bomb, the report says.

According to Reuters, asked whether the United States was asking Israel to let them know ahead of any assault against Iran, Barak replied: "We haven't made any decision to do this," and added: "This entire thing is very far off."

Barak also suggested Israel was coordinating with Washington its plans about handling Tehran's nuclear project which Israel views as an existential threat. "I don't think our ties with the United States are such that they have no idea what we are talking about," Barak said.

When pressed as to whether "very far off" meant weeks or months, Barak replied: "I wouldn't want to provide any estimates. It's certainly not urgent."

"I don't want to relate to it as though tomorrow it will happen," Barak said.