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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
 (AP)
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Last update - 14:26 27/09/2009
U.S. defense chief: Iran intends to develop nuclear arms
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Agencies and Haaretz Service
Tags: Barack Obama, Israel News 

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said he believes Iran intends to develop nuclear weapons, after the recent discovery of a secret uranium enrichment facility in the Islamic Republic.

"My personal opinion is that the Iranians have the intention of having nuclear weapons," said Gates in an interview with ABC News, set to be aired on Sunday.
But he added: "I think the question of whether they have made a formal decision to move towards the development of nuclear weapons, uh, is in doubt."
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The nuclear site in the arid mountains near the holy city of Qom is believed to be inside a heavily guarded, underground facility belonging to the elite Revolutionary Guard, according to a document sent by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration to lawmakers.

In the ABC interview, Gates said the fact that Iran had concealed the site's existence raised significant questions as to their nuclear ambitions.

"This is part of a pattern of deception and lies on the part of the Iranians from the very beginning with respect to their nuclear program," the defense secretary added.

Netanyahu calls for 'crippling' sanctions on Iran

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Senators and Congress members that now is the time to act to halt the Iranian nuclear program.

The prime minister's comments - in telephone conversations over the weekend - came a day after evidence of the clandestine Iranian nuclear facility was revealed.
"If not now, then when?" Netanyahu reportedly said in the conversations with American officials. "Action must be taken in all areas to increase pressure on Iran and impose crippling sanctions on it."

Senior Israeli officials said that the exposure of the enrichment facility near Qom by the U.S. was done in coordination with Israel. "All the events of the past week came as no surprise to us," one senior official said. U.S. officials last week informed National Security Advisor Uzi Arad and Netanyahu about the letter that Iran had sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in which it informed the Agency of the new enrichment facility.

The U.S. administration also informed Israel that it intends to hold a press conference on Friday morning and reveal what information Western countries have about the facility.

The Israeli intelligence community first learned of the Qom facility for enrichment of uranium several years ago. Foreign media reported that Israel took part in gathering intelligence on the facility, along with Germany, the U.K. and France.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, will convene the seven-member inner cabinet forum which meets regualary to discuss the Iranian issue and other foreign policy and defense matters and will update them on talks that he conducted at the United Nations General Assembly last week. He is also expected to speak about renewing peace talks with the Palestinians and talks with the U.S. and other Western nations on Iran. The Qom enrichment facility will also come up.

Also Saturday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said yesterday that the newly exposed Iranian facility proves without a doubt the Islamic republic is pursuing nuclear weapons.

"This removes the dispute whether Iran is developing military nuclear power or not and therefore the world powers need to draw conclusions," Lieberman told Israel Radio. "Without a doubt it is a reactor for military purposes not peaceful purposes," Lieberman added.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad later said his country had done nothing wrong and Obama would regret his actions. Iran insists its facilities are producing nuclear fuel for power plants and not weapons.

Obama, meanwhile, used his weekly radio and Internet address to offer Iran a serious, meaningful dialogue over its disputed nuclear program, while warning Tehran of grave consequences from a united global front.

"Iran's leaders must now choose - they can live up to their responsibilities and achieve integration with the community of nations. Or they will face increased pressure and isolation, and deny opportunity to their own people," Obama said.


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      1.   POST THIS HAARETZ--I DARE YOU!! 02:17  |  DAVID 27/09/09
      2.   What is Which? 02:22  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/09/09
      3.   Crippling Sanctions will Hurt Whom? 03:33  |  David James Vickery 27/09/09
      4.   "If not now, then when," 03:39  |  Victor 27/09/09
      5.   #1 David Dude... 03:53  |  Yosemite 27/09/09
      6.   What Happened to the Attack? 04:10  |  Mark Lincoln 27/09/09
      7.   Mark Lincoln _ Don`t Let That worry Your Little Head Mark 04:42  |  Eli 27/09/09
      8.   Mark Lincoln _ Don`t Let That worry Your Little Head Mark 04:42  |  Eli 27/09/09
      9.   david 05:04  |  alan 27/09/09
      10.   to 3 06:56  |  pragmatist 27/09/09
      11.   How about a trade ... 07:11  |  AB 27/09/09
      12.   counter terror 07:17  |  kid kosher 27/09/09
      13.   might be of interest 07:28  |  mitch 27/09/09
      14.   No 7 Eli 07:37  |  whatever 27/09/09
      15.   Why Israel Will Have To Go It Alone 07:56  |  The Warrior 27/09/09
      16.   Netanyahu is a hypocrite 08:47  |  B. 27/09/09
      17.   1st-heavy sanctions. 2nd-the BOMB. 3rd-Iran blackmails the world. 09:03  |  S 27/09/09
      18.   DAVID 09:15  |  TC 27/09/09
      19.   illusions 10:12  |  oz 27/09/09
      20.   crippling? 10:29  |  oz 27/09/09
      21.   15 Couch Warrior - For US Defense 10:37  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/09/09
      22.   OH MY GOD! 10:51  |  elj 27/09/09
      23.   upside down logic 11:24  |  sami abu ismail 27/09/09
      24.   If not now, whwn? 11:29  |  natterer 27/09/09
      25.   Israel has never signed the treaty and is therefore not bound by 12:38  |  Joshua 27/09/09
      26.   The Warrior AMEN BUDDY!!!!! Obama`s a girlie 12:40  |  Petra 27/09/09
      27.   david: Mullahs DID attack others and continues doing so 12:45  |  Arthur 27/09/09
      28.   #1 and #19 12:54  |  Ram 27/09/09
      29.   Re No 1 post this Haaretz, I dare you 13:00  |  freddy 27/09/09
      30.   honest dialogue needed 13:06  |  adam 27/09/09
      31.   Compare 13:16  |  peter vojta 27/09/09
      32.   #5 yosemite.. 13:44  |  Welshman 27/09/09
      33.   Yeah... there`s something fishy in Qom 14:13  |  allang 27/09/09
      34.   Eli #7 #8 Fantasies `can` be therapeutic. 14:18  |  Roo 27/09/09
      35.   Shall we just wait and see, then...? 14:27  |  Hardi J. Niclasen 27/09/09
      36.   #25 Joshua 14:38  |  Reza 27/09/09
      37.   Eli #7 #8 Fantasies `can` be therapeutic. 14:56  |  Roo 27/09/09
      38.   NOW the terrorist nation IRAN 15:13  |  is going to 27/09/09
      39.   To TC 15:31  |  Frank 27/09/09
      40.   nuclear 15:35  |  Yaron 27/09/09
      41.   Crippling actions on Israel 15:43  |  Pablo Luis 27/09/09
      42.   If Gates lived next to Israel he would want nukes too 16:31  |  Dutch 27/09/09
      43.   How about composing a song entitled, Iran intends to develop nuke 16:43  |  sing loud do zilch 27/09/09
      44.   :: It`s Israel`s fault really... 16:47  |  Matty Groves 27/09/09
      45.   :: Israel should be treated like Iran 16:48  |  Matty Groves 27/09/09
      46.   Only Parity will save Israel from its greed! 17:21  |  Peacenow! 27/09/09
      47.   Eli #7 #8 Fantasies `can` be therapeutic. 17:24  |  Roo 27/09/09
      48.   Which is what doesn`t matter Mark 17:42  |  Mark Lincoln 27/09/09
      49.   I have a suggestion 17:49  |  Mark Lincoln 27/09/09
      50.   Political theater 18:28  |  US Observer 27/09/09
      51.   excellent 18:31  |  razvratit 27/09/09
      52.   #35 Matty Groves; Is it Israel`s fault? 18:54  |  Murray of Montreal 27/09/09
      53.   to elj, pART 1 18:55  |  jj 27/09/09
      54.   to #25 Joshua - on Yom Kippur 18:59  |  Jewish American 27/09/09
      55.   to elj part 2 19:00  |  jj 27/09/09
      56.   #1 Welshman 20:31  |  PL 27/09/09
      57.   US Defense Chief: Iran intends to develop ... 20:43  |  PL 27/09/09
      58.   Jewish American 44 Excellent! 20:50  |  American in NY 27/09/09
      59.   #6 Mark. And this makes you happy ? 21:04  |  Ami 27/09/09
      60.   You can bomb the sites you know about 21:22  |  Chris Linthwaite 27/09/09
      61.   Iran Copies North Korean Tactics 21:36  |  Rick 27/09/09
      62.   The mouse roars 2nd try 22:28  |  maoriboy 27/09/09
      63.   No Easy Answer to This Problem 22:36  |  Jane 27/09/09
      64.   Gates` comments & # 1`s response 23:07  |  ernie 27/09/09
      65.   "Duck and Cover" 00:41  |  a wandering Jew 28/09/09
      66.   "Duck and Cover" --2nd try 01:19  |  a wandering Jew 28/09/09
      67.   So what else is new. 01:21  |  flower 28/09/09
      68.   #25 - Israel has never signed the treaty and is therefore not 01:42  |  Gully Foyle 28/09/09
      69.   Ami re # 48 it makes me happy 01:50  |  American in NY 28/09/09
      70.   Yom Kippur 01:54  |  Gully Foyle 28/09/09
      71.   Yeah... there`s something fishy in Qom 01:58  |  allang 28/09/09
      72.   Israel first, Iran can wait 02:28  |  Gully Foyle 28/09/09
      73.   #1 - David 02:30  |  Gully Foyle 28/09/09
      74.   #27, ARTHUR, what planet are you on? 02:30  |  VIPER 28/09/09
      75.   #43, JEWISH AMERICAN, thankyou 02:34  |  VIPER 28/09/09
      76.   #47 American in NY 03:35  |  Der Zweifler 28/09/09
      77.   Wandering Jew - Blockade Excuse for 67 War 04:04  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/09/09
      78.   Yeah... there`s something fishy in Qom 04:37  |  allang 28/09/09
      79.   #69 Der Zweifler 04:52  |  flyingdoc57 28/09/09
      80.   Why no reply? 05:16  |  Mark Lincoln 28/09/09
      81.   #76 flyingdoc 05:56  |  Der Zweifler 28/09/09
      82.   #76 flyingdoc second attempt 06:25  |  Der Zweifler 28/09/09
      83.   He believes 07:05  |  John the American 28/09/09
      84.   47/48 Mark Lincoln - Realism 07:46  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/09/09
      85.   BiBi speaks! 08:33  |  Steve Beikirch 28/09/09
      86.   Warrior #15, is that talk from the armchair? 09:07  |  Dave McGrath 28/09/09
      87.   I`m not a fan of Iran, however 09:15  |  Palestinian Prince 28/09/09
      88.   no. 76--remember the "Cuban Missle blockade?" 09:29  |  a wandering Jew 28/09/09
      89.   No,76--2nd try 10:36  |  a wandering Jew 28/09/09
      90.   #32/70/77 allang 3x0= 11:02  |  uriah 28/09/09
      91.   Israel has never beaten a country this size 11:04  |  honestywithoutmercy 28/09/09
      92.   `When` 11:06  |  James 28/09/09
      93.   palestinian prince 11:31  |  yerushalmi 28/09/09
      94.   lincoln 11:48  |  oz 28/09/09
      95.   GROVES 12:56  |  Yaron 28/09/09
      96.   How about Israels" lies and deceptions" 15:26  |  jim the mechanic 28/09/09
      97.   :: Yaron 16:29  |  Matty Groves 28/09/09
      98.   Two things to note 16:49  |  julie 28/09/09
      99.   88/89 Wandering Jew - The Missiles of October 17:59  |  Mark of Lewiston 28/09/09
      100.   99-- Mark of Lewiston 20:06  |  a wandering Jew 28/09/09
      101.   Israel`s enemies 21:06  |  fred & karen perry 28/09/09
      102.   #5 Yosemite - 21:09  |  Ice 28/09/09
      103.   #9 Alan 21:13  |  Ice 28/09/09
      104.   #47 Roo response to Eli #7 #8 21:32  |  Ice 28/09/09
      105.   Boycott Israel 21:46  |  Marc Leb 28/09/09
      106.   #75 a Jewish homeland, not a Jewish State 06:31  |  Jewish American 29/09/09
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      108.   Iran would be a non-issue if. 20:18  |  teddy bullard 29/09/09
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