The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has reported that AIVD, the Dutch intelligence service, has been carrying out operations in Iran to infiltrate and sabotage its weapon industry.
The Jerusalem Post summarizes the De Telegraaf article as saying that "the Dutch operation had been 'extremely successful,' and had been stopped because the US military was planning to hit targets that were 'connected with the Dutch espionage action.' The impending air-strike on Iran was to be carried out by unmanned aircraft 'within weeks,' the report claimed, quoting 'well placed' sources."
Iran's Press TV also ran a story on the De Telegraaf article.
News of the Dutch article was first reported in the U.S. by Steve Watson at Infowars.net. A rough translation of the De Telegraaf article can be viewed using Yahoo! Babel Fish.
Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post also reported on August 29 -- the same day that the De Telegraaf article was published -- that "whether a US strike on Iran is eventually decided upon, Jerusalem has begun preparing for a separate, independent military strike."
The Post added that "Ephraim Sneh a veteran Labor MK who has recently left the party, has reportedly sent a document to both US presidential candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama. The eight-point document states that "there is no government in Jerusalem that would ever reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran. When it is clear Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons, an Israeli military strike to prevent this will be seriously considered."
That story was first reported in another Israeli daily, Ma'ariv, and was likewise picked up by Press TV.
There have also been reports that Russia may push forward with the sale of S-300 air defense systems to Iran. Russian news service RIA Novosti noted that "The U.S. and Israel were alarmed by media reports, which started circulating as early as 2005, on the possible delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missiles to Iran, as these systems could greatly improve Iranian defenses against any air strike on its strategically important sites, including nuclear facilities."
Press TV noted that "Tensions between Russia and the US have been mounting after Georgia's military offensive into South Ossetia in early August to reclaim the de-facto region prompted Russia to send its troops into the area."
Dan Goure, a Pentagon advisor, was quoted as saying, "If Tehran obtained the S-300, it would be a game-changer in military thinking for tackling Iran. That could be a catalyst for Israeli air attacks before it is operational. This is a system that scares every Western air force."
Press TV also notes that
Tel Aviv has threatened to launch air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities under the pretext that Tehran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has plans to develop nuclear weapons.
This is while the UN nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran enriches uranium-235 to a level of 3.7 percent - a rate consistent with the construction of a nuclear power plant. Nuclear arms production requires an enrichment level of above 90 percent.
