Khamenei: ‘If any war happens…’

On Sunday, the official Twitter account of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei uploaded a video with his voiceover entitled, “If any wars happens…” (@khamenei_ir)

“This gentleman (President Obama) has said he can destroy Iranian military,” Khamanei is heard as saying. “But should any war break out, one who will emerge humiliated out of it, will be invading and criminal America.” (Twitter/@khamanei_ir, 13 September)

Video credit: @khamanei_ir/YouTube)

Hagel Says U.S. Will Not Let Iran Build Nuclear Weapon

U.S. Secretary of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Israeli leaders on Friday that the U.S. “will do what we must” to prevent Israel’s greatest fear of a nuclear-armed Iran.

“I want to assure you of the United States’ commitment to ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon - and that America will do what we must to live up to that commitment,” Hagel made the pledge in a statement at talks in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP, 16 May)

Hagel was wrapping up a four-day Middle East visit that began Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he met with defense ministers from Persian Gulf states. He told those U.S. allies that “under no circumstance” will the U.S. sacrifice their interests in order to make a nuclear deal with Iran.

In Israel, Hagel made a brief visit Thursday to an air base where U.S. and Israeli forces were preparing to begin a missile defense exercise, dubbed “Juniper Cobra,” using computer simulation of potential attack scenarios and post-attack disaster responses.

Photo credit: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin, right, with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Jeruslem, Friday, 16 May 2014. (Mandel Ngan/Pool/AP)

U.S. and Israel Agree on ‘Iran Threat’ - Dempsey

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told reporters today aboard a government aircraft leaving Israel, after wrapping up a two-day visit to the country, that U.S. and Israel are now in broad agreement about the “Iran threat.” (USA Today, 1 April)

“I think they (the Israeli officials) are satisfied that we have the capability to use a military option if the Iranians choose to stray off the diplomatic path,” Gen. Dempsey said. “I think they are satisfied we have the capability. I think they believe we will use it.”

In the past, Israelis have expressed wariness with U.S. policy toward Iran and there were disagreements on the pace at which Iran could field a nuclear weapon.

“Our clocks are more harmonized than they were two years ago,” Dempsey said. “They just wanted to know that we are maintaining and continuing to refine our military options,” he said. (USA Today, 1 April)

File photo: Gen. Martin Dempsey (Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images/USA Today)

IRGC Warns Israel

Commander of IRGC Aerospace Force Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said in Mashhad today that the warnings issued by the Iranian supreme leader about Iran’s crushing response to any possible Israeli attack on nuclear facilities would mean that the Iranian armed forces will reciprocated with a “destructive response,” Fars News Agency reported.

“The remarks of our master (Supreme Leader Khamenei) about Iran's response to the Zionist regime is the yardstick for our action and if the Zionists make a mistake, this (warning) will certainly take place, and the reason why they haven’t yet embarked on such a move lies in their fear of Iran’s capability and power,” Gen. Hajizadeh said.

File photo: Commander of IRGC Aerospace Force Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh (Fars News Agency)

Israel, Saudi Arabia Cooperating on Possible Iran Attack - Report

Israel and Saudi Arabia are secretly working together on plans for a possible attack against Iran, British paper The Sunday Times reported today.

According to the diplomatic source quoted by the Times, the Saudis  have agreed to let Israel use its air space, and assist an Israeli attack by cooperating on the use of drones, rescue helicopters and tanker planes, if the Geneva talks fail to stop breakout capability by Iran.

“Once the Geneva agreement is signed, the military option will be back on the table. The Saudis are furious and are willing to give Israel all the help it needs,” the Times quoted its source as saying. (The Times of London/Haaretz, 17 November)

Meanwhile, Israeli premier Netanyahu told CNN that Iran’s nuclear program is a direct threat to Israel's survival; he made the comments in an interview that will be broadcast Sunday morning (Haaretz, 17 November)

File photo: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (Al Arabiya) 

Netanyahu and Nasrallah Warn of Iran War

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned in a rare public appearance today that failure of the West to strike a deal with Iran over its nuclear program would spell “war in the region.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned today that a “bad deal” with Iran on its nuclear program could lead to war.

Nasrallah spoke in Hezbollah's southern Beirut stronghold to mark the Ashura, one of the holiest days in Shia calendar. Netenyahu made his comments during an address to Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem.

“What is the alternative to a deal with Iran and the countries of the world,” Nasrallah asked. “The alternative is war in the region.” (AFP, 13 November)

Nasrallah pointed the finger at Israel and Arab countries.

“Israel does not want any accord that would avert war in the region. It is regrettable that some Arab countries take the Israeli side in its murderous choices… It is regrettable that Netanyahu is the spokesman for some Arab countries,” said Nasrallah.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s aides challenged U.S. assertions to have offered Tehran only modest relief from sanctions during the latest round of the Geneva talks.

Reuters reported that Western proposal at Geneva could let Iran sell oil and gold in return for curbs on its nuclear activities. An Israeli minister told the news agency that the deal would negate up to 40 percent of the impact of sanctions, reducing pressure on Tehran to halt a program the West says has a military motive.

“I would go so far as to say that a bad deal could lead to the second, undesired option,” Netanyahu said, referring to military attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. (Reuters, 13 November)

File photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah (ibtimes)