Iran: 'Unimaginable' Retaliation If Israel Hits Nuclear Plant

Ha'aretz Daily ^

[RCW2001]

Iran: 'unimaginable' retaliation if Israel hits nuclear plant

By Daniel Sobelman, Ha'aretz Correspondent and Reuters

Iran warned Israel on Monday not to consider attacking its nuclear power plant, saying the Islamic republic 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," Defense Minister Admiral Ali Shamkhani told Arabic-language al-Jazeera television. He said he was not referring to a nuclear response.

The admiral was responding to a question about 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 often warn of a possible Israeli strike against the Bushehr plant similar to Israel's air attack on an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.

"Iran is not a small country like Iraq. Iran has a powerful artillery, a disciplined army and skilled air defences," Jazeera quoted Shamkhani as saying.

According to Shamkhani, Israel cannot carry out an attack against the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, and Iran does not fear such a thing. Shamkhani noted 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 Hamani, who appoints all of the important ministers in the Iranian government.

The warning came amid growing U.S. pressure on Iran to halt its alleged efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.

U.S. President George W. Bush has in the past week issued a series of warnings to Iran, along with Iraq and North Korea, accusing them of being an "axis of evil."

Iran strongly 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 convince Russia to stop its military and nuclear energy cooperation with the Islamic republic.

[weikel]

I feel like personally emailing Sharon after this and advising him to bomb the crap outta the plant.

[modern_orthodox]

didn't Iraq say the same thing about their plant (then in progress) in 1980? As I recall, it didn't work out too well for them.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They must feel like something's coming.

[nocommies]

i agree, it sounds like a dare. and iraq's vp or whatever the hell they call him warned us not to attack or we would have concsequences far worse than 9/11. sounds like another threat/dare to me. anytime theyre ready, let them bring it on.

[kidd]

"If Israel carries out any military action against Iran, it will face a response that will be unimaginable to any Israeli politician"

"Yeah! Like we'll send shiploads of weapons to the PLO, or something like that! er..."

[arete]

All Arags seem to suffer from foot in mouth disease. I hope that Israel blows the crap out of the plant(s) just before they are ready for fueling.

Richard W.

[hflynn]

Forget the plant, takeout the whole country.

[theirjustdue]

""Iran is not a small country like Iraq. Iran has a powerful artillery, a disciplined army and skilled air defences,"

They forget, at the time Israel bombed Iraq's plant, Iraq had the fourth largest army in the world. Didn't keep Israel from doing what it had to do though.

[nocommies]

agreed, lets be fair here.... if israel is going to hit iran, its only fair that we tap iraq. i hope the manufacture of those tomahawk missiles is coming along very nicely, it would be good to wail away at these two rogue nations with a rain of hellfire in the first 48 hours that they cannot comprehend. absolutely hit them with the power of something we have never seen before. i think bush and rumsfeld and cheney, and even powell once you convince him to do it, are into the overwhelming force approach. there will be no somalia fiasco this time.

[js1138]

All the same, it's good to have these folks thinking about what they have to lose.

[modern_orthodox]

seriously, if Israel were to suddendly send in an airstrike and blow up the plant, Iran would still be faced with the option of committing suicide by forcing Israel to use weapons of mass destruction in retaliation for whatever they'd respond with. I don't think they'd bite.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Iran warned Israel on Monday not to consider attacking its nuclear power plant, saying the Islamic republic would retaliate in ways "unimaginable" to the Jewish state.

Okay... I'm curious.

With what, would Iran retaliate against Israel with?

Surly they don't believe their military stands even the slightest of chances against Israel, do they?

They must be talking of more cowardly terrorist attacks...

Personally, I believe the world would breathe a collective sigh of relief if Israel blasted this plant into dust. TMMT

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Middle Eastern nations, specifically radical Islamic nutjob types have about as much business operating a nuke plant (even a non-breeder type) as I do commanding the Space Shuttle...

[weikel]

Actually the pop is pro American they just need to be armed. Take out the whole government and religious establishment.

[mvonfr]

Iran strongly denies seeking nuclear weapons and says its atomic program is for non-military use.

Iran also added that since his country totally lacks oil, peaceful nuclear energy is essential. Other Iranian representavives added that shall Israel destroy the plant, no less than 100 million Iranian children will freeze to death every year

[EternalHope]

Iran also added that since his country totally lacks oil, peaceful nuclear energy is essential. Other Iranian representavives added that shall Israel destroy the plant, no less than 100 million Iranian children will freeze to death every year

As I recall, he also threatened to unleash so much hot air that the ice caps would melt and all Infidels would drown.