Russia warns Israel against Tehran attack

The US and other Western countries say that Iran is secretly developing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran firmly denies. The Islamic Republic insists it's nuclear programme is geared towards peaceful purposes. Israel's exercise sends a signal to Iran and its allies, The Post said.
"It's a way of saying, 'If you're not willing to ratchet up the pressure, you're going to make force more likely, as the current path is not changing Iranian behavior,' " said Dennis Ross of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
The US presence in Iraq also might be undermined by military action that could provoke an Iranian response, according to The Post.
"I don't think the Pentagon is in the business of scaring the Iranians," said former assistant secretary of state Martin Indyk, now at the Brookings Institution. "They are happy with the way things are going in Iraq and don't want anything to upset the apple cart in a way that will make the surge look problematic."
The soaring price of oil is another constraint on U.S. military action or on prospects that the Bush administration would give Israel a green light to act. "A raid on Iran would convulse the markets," said Robinson West of PFC Energy. "The price would go into uncharted territory. Pick a number. It could easily reach $200."