Tehran and Tel Aviv in nuclear war of words

The Woodward Report ^ | October 24, 2009 | Michael Theodoulou

[honestabe010]

Iran yesterday angrily denied Israeli media assertions that senior nuclear officials from the two countries held confidential talks last month in what was portrayed as the first direct exchange between the two arch enemies for 30 years.

The reports sparked a flurry of official statements from Tehran and Tel Aviv which, unusually, agreed on many points. Both acknowledged sending representatives to an international conference in Cairo on nuclear disarmament.

Each confirmed there were no direct, bilateral talks. The deliberations were meant to be confidential. But leaked accounts of the conference infuriated Tehran, which said the notion of any sort of meeting with Israel was absurd. “The Islamic republic does not recognise the Zionist regime,” said Ali Shirzadian, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation.

He did not deny Iran had attended the conference, but insisted that throughout the Iranian delegation had denounced Israel’s undeclared arsenal of nuclear weapons.

Israeli officials also said it was “preposterous” to suggest that the conference implied diplomatic contact between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

“The two sides did not meet or speak to one another directly,” said Yael Doron, the spokeswoman for Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission.

An Egyptian official present said Israeli and Iranian officials had traded barbs during panel discussions, where representatives from other countries were present.

“We had round-table discussions … then there were cross-table discussions. It was rather polemical, with accusations,” he said.

[Soothesayer9]

This is news? When have they *not* been in a war of words? Or any other war for that matter. Peace is taboo for them.

[F15Eagle]

“The Islamic republic does not recognise the Zionist regime,” said Ali Shirzadian, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation.

But, always remember that the Iranian Islamic republic's coming nuclear weapons are for "peaceful purposes" - /huge sarc

[OpeEdMunkey]

“The Islamic republic does not recognise the Zionist regime,”

Huh. Then I wonder who they're planning to nuke if it's not the 'Zionist regime'?

[F15Eagle]

They figure after they nuke it there wouldn’t be anything left to recognize.

Of course, when they see the radar tracks of inbound nukes (assuming they don’t use just cruise missiles) they might actually realize that Israel DOES exist.

Boy what a day that will be. Better have your gas tank filled up. Yikes.

There’s no way Israel is going to wait until they put a working nuke on a Shihab-3 or Sajjil-2. They’ll do a conventional bombing of the missile launchers but not the nuclear facilities. They won’t want to cause a nuclear meltdown.

The only way they would actually nuke Tehran is if they believed a nuke was on its way.

There is definitely a clash coming.

[The Comedian]

Somebody better tell Barry to show up with fairy dust and his magic wand and wave it over his brethren in Tehran. Sounds like they haven't heard he's brought peace on earth and joy to the world.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[OpeEdMunkey]

I wish I could disagree with you, but I can’t. There is most definitely a clash coming. A clash that will put the Palestinian squabble in perspective for sure.