‘All Options Means All Options’

Israel's ambassador to the United States on Iran's nuclear program.

Published Oct 3, 2009

From the magazine issue dated Oct 12, 2009

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Israel has always said that a nuclear Iran poses a threat to its existence. Israel also has believed for some time that Iran is working on creating nuclear weapons and is moving closer to realizing its goal. If, for example, Russia delivers the S-300 antiaircraft system to Iran as it has agreed to do, it would make the possibility of an Israeli air attack on Iran's nuclear facilities difficult, if not impossible. NEWSWEEK's Lally Weymouth sat down with Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the U.S., to find out the Israeli reaction to the Obama administration's talks with Iran last week. Excerpts:

WEYMOUTH: How do you view the outcome of last week's talks with Iran?
OREN: Israel supports the president's intention to conduct further contacts with Iranian representatives with the goal of ceasing uranium-enrichment activities on Iranian soil.

The Iranians have lied continuously about their nuclear facilities, and they lied about the existence of the plant that was recently revealed at Qum. Western intelligence agencies have known for some time about Qum, but the Iranians revealed it to the International Atomic Energy Agency only when it was clear that it was going to be revealed. Why would Israel believe that Iran is going to stop enriching uranium?
I will reiterate Israel's position—Israel's goal is an arrangement where Iran no longer has the ability to enrich uranium on its soil. This is a regime that has systematically lied about its nuclear program for a quarter of a century and has managed to dissemble and sidestep any and all international supervision.

Reportedly, Israel believes that Iran is going to get the bomb this year.
There are different estimates, but Israel believes that Iran is approaching the position where it can break out and dash forward to create a nuclear weapon.

Israel is not the kind of country that says the goal is to stop Iran from enriching and then not do anything about it if it doesn't comply. Is Israel going to strike?
Israel supports President Obama's position of [keeping] all options on the table.

That means military options, right?
All options means all options.

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Posted By: factsearcher @ 10/27/2009 11:37:00 AM

The facts have been on the table for some time now.
Iran is the one fed up with a looney regime being a puppet of religious extremism. Irans new generation is rising to this new era of more TOLERANCE and less archaic fanatism. Who cares what your faith is and if you believe in something (or not) as long as you live and let live in peace.
When Israel has been asked if they possed nuclear weapons: the leaders just smile. They say that if the enemy believe they have nuclear weapons and that is a deterrent... then it suits Israel just fine.
On the other hand, we all know the iranian regime has vow to give the nuclear development prompt "uses"..... or it would not have to hide their facilities. The arab countries are in agreement with Israel and the west that an armed Iran would be an unstable middle east. That means that no matter if you like your current neighbors in the middle east or not...they are right about Iran 100%.
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Posted By: factsearcher @ 10/27/2009 11:36:32 AM

The ones stalling the peace program have been the palistinians... do us alla favor and look up the many peace resolutions...even the one that Israel was willing to give 98% of land in exchange for peace and the notorious looney Arafat rejected....palistinians have lost years and years of opportunities to create a great Palestine by succumbingi into the archaic ideology of the "all or nothing". Israel exists and is not going anywhere...there is no Palestine...actions speak louder than empty words. Palistinians have spoken with their actions: violence will continue until colonization is complete....again very caveman mentality. Listen to Fayyad... he is working it for the people...not for fanatism and extremism.
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Posted By: factsearcher @ 10/27/2009 11:29:02 AM

The facts have been on the table for some time now.
Iran is the one fed up with a looney regime being a puppet of religious extremism. Irans new generation is rising to this new era of more TOLERANCE and less archaic fanatism. Who cares what your faith is and if you believe in something (or not) as long as you live and let live in peace.
When Israel has been asked if they possed nuclear weapons: the leaders just smile. They say that if the enemy believe they have nuclear weapons and that is a deterrent... then it suits Israel just fine.
On the other hand, we all know the iranian regime has vow to give the nuclear development prompt "uses"..... or it would not have to hide their facilities. The arab countries are in agreement with Israel and the west that an armed Iran would be an unstable middle east. That means that no matter if you like your current neighbors in the middle east or not...they are right about Iran 100%.