Posted on 06/06/2003 9:31:01 AM PDT by knighthawk
MOSCOW, June 5 (AFP) - Iran will acquire weapons of mass destruction by 2006, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said in an interview with Russian daily Izvestia published on Thursday.
"Iran will possess weapons of mass destruction at the end of 2005 or early in 2006. This greatly concerns Israel and I think, should concern Russia," Shalom said, without giving any further details.
The Israeli foreign minister is to start a three-day visit to Russia on Monday.
Russia has contested US accusations that oil-rich Iran is using its nuclear sites to develop nuclear weapons. And despite US pressure, Russia is continuing to help build Iran's first nuclear power station at Bushehr.
However, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin had at the G8 summit committed Russia to ending sales of nuclear fuel to Iran until the country's nuclear activities come under greater international control.
Israel has its own weapons of mass destruction program, though it has never admitted it publicly.
I imagine things would get pretty interesting.
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