The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has been training on long-range flights,
including refueling in mid-flight, in preparation for potential
strikes against Iranian nuclear targets.
The training program has been taking place for some time but has only
been released for publication Friday, the Ma'ariv daily reported.
Intelligence assessments received by the defense establishment concur
that once Iran passes the point of no return in its nuclear efforts,
the entire Middle East will enter a frantic nuclear armament race.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are expected to take the lead should such a
scenario become reality.
At the end of 2007 the US and Israel are expected to hold a joint
assessment to ascertain the influence of economic sanctions against
Iran.
the US, includes exerting pressure on European governments to cancel
US $22 billion in loan guarantees given annually to European
companies trading with Iran.
The new package also includes sanctions against banks working with
Iran, non-renewal of oil infrastructure in Iran and a long series of
economic actions that are meant to seriously hurt the Iranian
economy.
Following the end-of-year assessment, Washington will decide how to
move forward in the struggle against Iran's nuclear race.
Members of the international community - the US and Israel leading -
are convinced that Iran's race to enrich uranium is aimed at
producing nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic, on its side, insists
it is looking for energy sources that would be an alternative to
fossil fuels.
Iran has so far remained defiant in face of the demands voiced by the
international community that it make its nuclear program transparent
to UN-mandated monitoring.
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