The Islamic Republic of Iran warned Israel on Monday not to consider attacking its nuclear power plant, stating that it would retaliate in ways "unimaginable" to the Jewish State.
“If Israel carries out any military action against Iran, it will face a response that will be unimaginable to any Israeli politician," Iranian Defense Minister Admiral Ali Shamkhani told al-Jazeera television. He said he was not referring to a nuclear response.
The admiral was responding to a question regarding what Iran's reaction would be to a possible Israeli attack on an Iranian nuclear power plant under construction by Russian experts near the Gulf port of Bushehr.
Iranian media frequently warn of a possible Israeli strike against the Bushehr plant, like Israel's air attack on an Iraqi nuclear reactor some two decades ago, in 1981.
“Iran is not a small country like Iraq. Iran has a powerful artillery, a disciplined army and skilled air defences," al-Jazeera quoted Shamkhani as saying.
According to him, Israel cannot carry out an attack against the Bushehr nuclear power plant and Tehran, for its part, is not afraid of such a thing. Shamkhani emphasized that he does not even consider the possibility of Israel bombing the nuclear plant.
Shamkhani is thought to be close to Iran's spiritual leader Ali Khameni, who appoints all of the significant ministers in the Iranian government.
The warning came amidst growing U.S. pressure on Iran to put an end to its alleged efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.
U.S. President George W. Bush has issued in the past week a series of warnings to Iran, along with countries Iraq and North Korea, accusing them of being an part of an “axis of evil”.
Iran firmly denies seeking nuclear weapons and says its atomic program is for non-military use.
Both Israel and the United States have tried, but failed to persuade Moscow to stop its military and nuclear energy cooperation with the Iran. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
