The U.S. government officials, reportedly, assured Israel that it keeps the option of attacking Iran over its nuclear programme, despite widespread Israeli concern that Washington has begun softening its position toward Tehran. The United States had not abandoned all possibility of a military attack on Iran, though U.S. officials are primarily seeking a diplomatic solution. The message was conveyed by Bush administration officials in meetings with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, who was on a visit to Washington. At the same time, U.S. officials acknowledged that there is a rare divergence in the U.S. and Israeli approaches, with Israelis emphasising the possibility of a military response out of concern that Tehran may soon have the know-how for building a nuclear bomb. U.S. and Israeli officials believe Iran is enriching uranium with the aim of building nuclear weapons, but Iran says that its nuclear programme was for peaceful and civilian energy purposes. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said in an interview that U.S. officials have often made it clear to Israeli officials that Washington prefers to try to mitigate the threat from Tehran by applying economic pressure.
U.S. ASSURES ISRAEL OF POSSIBLE ATTACKS ON IRAN
The U.S. government officials, reportedly, assured Israel that it keeps the option of attacking Iran over its nuclear programme, despite widespread Israeli concern that Washington has begun softening its position toward Tehran.
