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World War III ?! What Happens If ISREAL Hits On IRAN? ‘Force If Needed, Obama Tells Tehran’
WASHINGTON, March 4, (Agencies): US President Barack Obama criticized “loose talk of war” on Sunday as he pleaded for patience in resolving the nuclear stand-off with Iran, arguing that coordinated international pressure would force Tehran to the negotiating table.
On the eve of White House talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obama sought to reassure the powerful pro-Israel lobby by vowing to use force if necessary, but said “now is not the time for bluster.”
Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington alongside Israeli President Shimon Peres, he said sanctions were working and cautioned against the saber-rattling of recent months.
“Because of our efforts, Iran is under greater pressure than ever before,” he told thousands of delegates at the AIPAC annual policy forum.
“Iran is isolated, its leadership divided and under pressure. And the Arab Spring has only increased these trends, as the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime is exposed, and its ally — the Assad regime (in Syria) — is crumbling.”
“I firmly believe that an opportunity remains for diplomacy — backed by pressure – to succeed,” Obama said.
“Already, there is too much loose talk of war. Over the last few weeks, such talk has only benefited the Iranian government, by driving up the price of oil, which they depend upon to fund their nuclear program.”
US intelligence is said to believe that Iran does not currently intend to produce nuclear weapons, though it may be seeking the capacity to do so, and Washington has emphasized the importance of deterrent sanctions and diplomacy.
But Israel is reportedly eager to move more quickly and decisively against Iran’s nuclear activities, using a military strike to prevent it from obtaining even the capacity to take a decision to produce nuclear weapons.
“For the sake of Israel’s security, America’s security, and the peace and security of the world, now is not the time for bluster; now is the time to let our increased pressure sink in, and to sustain the broad international coalition that we have built,” Obama said.
He reaffirmed his strong backing for Israel and warned Iran’s leaders that he would not hesitate to use force, if required, to stop it developing a nuclear weapon.
“Iran’s leaders should know that I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And as I’ve made clear time and again during the course of my presidency, I will not hesitate to use force when it is necessary to defend the United States and its interests.”
Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy purposes and medical research.
Experts warn that Israel fears that the US and Israeli clocks for military action may not be synchronized and that Washington might seek to delay strikes until it is too late.
Speaking before Obama, Peres said Israel “shall prevail” if forced to fight Iran, which he called “an evil, cruel and morally corrupt regime” bent on controlling the Middle East.
“Iran is the center, the sponsor, the financer of world terror. Iran is a danger to the entire world,” he said.
Stressing unity, Peres said “the United States and Israel share the same goal — to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. There is no space between us.”
Decisions
Israel will take any decisions on Iran’s nuclear activities as an “independent state,” Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Sunday.
“Clearly, the United States is the biggest world power and the biggest and most important country that is a friend of Israel, but we are an independent state,” Lieberman told Israeli public radio.
“Ultimately, the state of Israel will take the decisions that are most appropriate based on its evaluation of the situation,” he said.
“The Iranian file is well-known,” Lieberman said. “The direction taken by Iran is clear.”
But he added that any decisions should be taken “calmly, weighing the pros and cons. All this chatter doesn’t help anyone.”
Lieberman also warned that the international community’s failure to deal with the bloodshed in Syria, where a crackdown on anti-regime protesters has killed thousands, showed Israel could rely only on itself for protection.
“If the international community is incapable of stopping the massacres in Syria, what is the value of its promises to protect the security of Israel?”.
Peace talks with the Palestinians dominated President Barack Obama’s meeting last year with Netanyahu but will barely warrant a mention at their White House session Monday or in speeches to a powerful pro-Israeli lobby. Iran is now the issue commanding urgent attention.
Shifting focus from the seemingly intractable Mideast conflict has political advantages for both Obama and Netanyahu, even if they also don’t see eye to eye on the preferred tactics to prevent Iran from being a nuclear-armed state.
For one, no politician in an election year has ever suffered from being tough on Iran. Pressing Israel on the need to make concessions to the Palestinians can be a political minefield.
That is what happened last year when Obama declared that the need for a two-state solution was “more urgent than ever.” He challenged Israel to make concessions on borders and security that have hindered an agreement for six decades.
The immediate result was public confrontation with Netanyahu, and fodder for a Republican Party eager to cast Obama as a weak partner to Israel.
Israel is an ally whose wishes are key to the Democratic-leaning Jewish vote and to the evangelical Christians who make up a large chunk of the Republican base. A year of balky peace negotiations, an acrimonious Palestinian campaign to win UN recognition and continued Israeli settlement construction in disputed territories have hardly validated Obama’s public call for a speedy resolution.
Loyalists
Clerical Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has tightened his grip on Iran’s faction-ridden politics after loyalists won over 75 percent of seats in parliamentary elections at the expense of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a near-complete count showed.
The widespread defeat of Ahmadinejad supporters – including his sister, Parvin Ahmadinejad – is expected to reduce the president to a lame duck after he sowed divisions by challenging the utmost authority of Khamenei in the governing hierarchy.
The outcome of Friday’s vote, essentially a contest between conservative hardline factions with reformist leaders under house arrest, will have no big impact on Iranian foreign policy, notably its nuclear stand-off with the West. But it will boost Khamenei’s influence in next year’s presidential election.
With 90 percent of ballot boxes counted, Khamenei acolytes were expected to occupy more than three-quarters of the 290 seats in the Majlis (parliament), according to a list published by the interior ministry on Sunday.
In the race for the 30 seats in the capital Tehran, a Reuters tally of preliminary returns showed Khamenei supporters had taken 19 and pro-Ahmadinejad candidates the rest. Leading in popularity was Gholam-Ali Haddad Adel, a key ally of Khamenei and father-in-law to the paramount leader’s son, Mojtaba.
Pro-Khamenei candidates won in the Shi’ite Muslim holy cities of Qom and Mashhad and led in other major provincial centres including Isfahan and Tabriz, where over 90 percent of voters backed Ahmadinejad in the 2009 parliamentary election.
Khamenei loyalists also appear to have swept up around 70 percent of seats in rural regions – hitherto bastions of Ahmadinejad and his populist nationalism that clerics see as a threat to their political primacy in the Islamic Republic.
Independents and women candidates fared relatively well in many provincial towns, where they campaigned on the immediate concerns – generally economic — of their constituents.
Iran’s energy-driven economy is suffering badly from Western sanctions – now expanding to block its lucrative oil exports – imposed over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear activity and give unfettered access to UN nuclear inspectors.
The interior ministry said final results were expected by Monday but the exact makeup of the new parliament will not be known until April, following runoff elections for more than thirty seats.
The results are hard to compare with the outgoing parliament since Khamenei and Ahmadinejad loyalists were united in the 2008 legislative elections, garnering about 70 percent of seats.
But analysts said the combative Ahmadinejad – who is constitutionally barred from running for a third presidential term – would not readily bow to the ballot box rout of his supporters and may fight back.
“Ahmadinejad’s camp has not been demolished. We have to wait and see what happens after the new parliament convenes in June,” said analyst Hamid Farahvashian.
“The vote showed that there is a deepening rift between the ruling elites. It might emerge in the coming weeks.”
Ahmadinejad is likely to be summoned to an unprecedented hearing in the outgoing parliament by Friday to answer questions focusing on his rocky handling of the economy, while Khamenei kept ultimate control over foreign policy.
Critics say Ahmadinejad has inflicted higher inflation on Iranians by slashing food and fuel subsidies to cut spending and purge waste, and replacing them with cash handouts of around $38 a month per person.
Parliament could impeach Ahmadinejad if his explanations are unconvincing, but Khamenei’s green light would be needed.
Analysts said Ahmadinejad is likely to survive his term – but as a lame duck president.
“The establishment is under Western pressure and does not want to look divided,” said analyst Babak Sadeghi. “Ahmadinejad will finish his term as a weak executive.”
Under mounting Western pressure over its nuclear programme and concerns that Israel might attack, Iran’s clerical elite needed a high election turnout to shore up their legitimacy damaged since Ahmadinejad’s 2009 re-election, in which fraud allegations triggered eight months of anti-government protests.
Khamenei, 72, said a high turnout would be a message of defiance to “the arrogant powers bullying us”, a reference to Western states and sanctions against Iran.
State officials said the turnout was over 64 percent, higher than the 57 percent in the 2008 parliamentary vote.
Absent from the vote were the two main opposition leaders. Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, who ran for president in 2009, have been under house arrest for more than a year.
Iran denies Western suspicions that it is enriching uranium with the ultimate goal of developing nuclear weapons, saying the programme is for peaceful energy only.
But arch-adversary Israel has talked of war if diplomacy and sanctions do not bring about a peaceful outcome to the nuclear row. Iran will top the agenda when Israel’s prime minister meets US President Barack Obama in Washington on Monday.
Obama has said military action was among the options to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons but has also argued against a pre-emptive Israeli strike.
Global oil prices have spiked to 10-month highs on tensions between the West and Iran, OPEC’s second biggest crude producer.
Posted by Editor
on March 5, 2012. Filed under INTERNATIONAL NEWS.
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jesse
March 5, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Iran is stubborn. There motives are dark
chisomo
March 5, 2012 at 5:28 pm
only God keeps and will continue to keep us safe
Uncle B
March 5, 2012 at 5:33 pm
We have no where to run to! May God help us
mwisho kaps
March 5, 2012 at 5:37 pm
let Iran exercise her Human Rights…. No interferance and u wiil see tranquility. Its a sovereign state wth a right to produce nuclear whatever………. Evryday UsA, USA…..! Who ar they? No ways. Leave nation states alone
mweo
March 5, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Ezekiel 37&38. Could it be Gog and Magog war? Let’s wait and see.
Jeremy good luck mugabe
March 5, 2012 at 5:53 pm
at least learn how to spell “Israel”… illiterate Africans.
GUN
March 5, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Samariz some of your stories Ba tumfweko.
jeff
March 5, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Gog magog is not now ready revalation very well especialy from chapter 18 going upto last .
Rich-k
March 5, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Fear only one who takes both life and Spirit.Only BASHI Emma is to be feared.
Not nuclear,wat is nuclear to Bashi Emmanuel(GOD) who takes care of ZED.We are protected.REPENT OF YOUR SINS or else you will die alone and that will be your end.
kokokoko
March 5, 2012 at 8:56 pm
can sata articulate issues like obama?
the 3ye
March 5, 2012 at 9:20 pm
obama is pretending to be against the attacking of Iran when deep inside he wants them inhilated, mambala
Tonga Bull
March 5, 2012 at 10:38 pm
the USA are hypocrites, they have a lot of nuclear weapons and they do not want others to have, they even gave some to israel. iran should continue what they are doing. viva IRAN, viva IRAN.
Jeremy good luck mugabe
March 5, 2012 at 11:01 pm
where did you plagiarize this article from?
Igwala-gwala
March 6, 2012 at 8:18 am
obama is doing it good by pretending to suport israel because in the end he will be able to stop israel from attacking iran hence preventing world war.
umu zedian
March 6, 2012 at 8:50 am
100% in favour of Iran, carry on the plan.
umu zedian
March 6, 2012 at 8:53 am
100% in favor of Iran, carry on the plan. To me it does not matter, whether I die or I live, I hate america & it’s govt.
Iran should destroy america, Korea also should come in as soon as possible.
mwila
March 6, 2012 at 9:06 am
Yr contribution should be constructive plzeee
naine
March 6, 2012 at 9:46 am
Here we go again.Where are the weapons of mass destruction?Where are the nuclear weapons?Stopeti americans
Tonga goat
March 6, 2012 at 9:50 am
Zambia has a nuclear arsenal piled in ….rember those spies
D33
March 6, 2012 at 9:52 am
Two swords can never create peace
jo
March 6, 2012 at 10:06 am
Israel and US overeacting on what they know and do thinking iran is doing the same.
concerned with people
March 6, 2012 at 10:12 am
why should u make a nuclare weapon? who do u intend to use it on? lets develop things that are going to help human beings cormfortable and a better place. God we need your wisdom and grace
vos matuta
March 6, 2012 at 1:22 pm
There’s o’ways room to run to,i mean all this space sure.Only one nation should be allowed to have nuclear warheads for peace purposes therefore iran must be bombed sooner than later by US thru israel since israel is nearer to iran.
The Equalizer
March 6, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Israel and the USA are the true criminals in this and many other equations.
Boom
March 6, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Iran 4 the sake of your existance stop what you are doing 4 the love of GOD. The hand of the Lord is on Israel, Israel is protected by God; this is the time 2 change.
The Equalizer
March 6, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Bob Marley was right when he said “Total destruction is the only solution.” We are under a criminal syndicate which has given us fake democratic illusions and manipulative religions, and until we wake up we shall forever be slaves of the ruling elite. Wake up. To see the prison is to leave it.
The Equalizer
March 6, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Those who think Israel is the promised land, read your histpry books. This Israel of today has nothing to do with God’s promise to Jacob. This one was created in 1948 to compensate for the holocaust and to put a sattelite nation for the world ruling elite in the Arab world. This Israel occupies territory belonging to other tribes. Besides, how many Israelites (or Jews) do you know who are christians? Those guys do not recognize your Jesus. They read Torah, not Bible, and they practise Judaism, not christianity. Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.
Cicy
March 6, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I should say that’s the end of the world. Jesus Christ of Nazarette is near to come and perish the last World Empire. Understand what was written in the book of Daniel Chapter 2 and Daniel chapter 7 in the Holy Bible.
Mundi
March 6, 2012 at 3:14 pm
It is better we leave the earth better than we found it for the young generation to enjoy life as well, our ancesters were clever enough not to use nuclear weapons for u & me to enjoy live in a clean envilonment it is our duty as well to take care of the earth not polute it with nuclear weapons. Ki Moon can now come in cos the job has been found.
george
March 6, 2012 at 4:25 pm
it’s a call for the world to pray 4 peace,our God will never allow this,he’l have his own protected.lo rd have mercy.
Unclep
March 7, 2012 at 12:11 am
God’s word, all of ir must be fulfild. 3rd world war is gona happen for the evil one to carry out his plans.
pmastr
March 7, 2012 at 10:05 am
let’s us rise and pray to the almight for peace and protection cos our God is above al these nations so called Iran and Israel.
2kay
March 7, 2012 at 10:31 am
Ki moon where are? These are da issues 2 deal wit not homosexual stuff
Brown
March 7, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Israel is here to stay because He is the first bone son of GOD and whoever TOUCHES the first bone of GOD its pwepwepwe….
Brown
March 7, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Iran should not fight what has been established already,nothing can destroy Israel,this is a fact, because they are in the perfect plan of GOD almighty,Iran is wasting time fighting Israel because they shall not by all means win this war if at all it will take place…..GO ISRAEL GO…
South Sudan!!!!
March 7, 2012 at 1:10 pm
ba kapala U claim to hate USA but all u dream of is being in that country. Hyppo..crites. Naiwe Ka moon sort out this mess of warlords.
Indian
March 8, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Who awarded Obama the Nobel Peace Prize? Such a hypocrit he is!
Who said only USA has the right to develop Nukes? The fall of US has begun with ist wrong diplomatic policies.
Watchman
March 8, 2012 at 10:34 pm
For sure,people must read.careful even western Christianity is a fraud.look to the East.jerusalem had fallen and Judah remained.find out how God’s glory left Israel..
Brown
March 9, 2012 at 8:37 am
God’s glory has never left Israel but since he is not a man to say one thing and do the other he will surely remember his words with Abraham that this Land i will give to your decendants.just wait a little while and all Israelies from around the world will come together to go back to their Land and occupy it then you will know that our God is a God who keeps covanants and he cant break it no matter what.
chambwinochilipo!
March 9, 2012 at 9:49 am
Human greed!
chanda mwamba
March 10, 2012 at 11:02 am
God is great no weapons formed against Israel will prosper
JABS
March 10, 2012 at 7:17 pm
Ahamadinejad talks of wiping Israel off the surface of the earth but before he does that israel will give Iran a humiliating blow.whatever happens to Israel,they will stil truamph over their enemies in Jesus name.
john maika
March 11, 2012 at 1:49 pm
obama stil has’t realize his aims iran is not as others arabic countries they are more guarantee by lord than many countries in the world but american could’t know that only they touch iran. US Are worst to world peace their right to secure their home rather than people affairs we all human being do what u fell and leave others they do what they feel.