All options against Iran must be prepared, says Israel Army Chief

Israel and the United States suspect that Iran’s nuclear drive is aimed at developing an atomic bomb, a claim vehemently denied by Tehran, which says its programme is designed solely for civilian use.Although the two close allies continue to say diplomatic and economic sanctions could still dissuade Iran from continuing its programme, Israel and the United States have refused to rule out military action.

Meanwhile, Moscow opposes setting a deadline for Iran to respond to an offer made by six mediator countries in strained nuclear talks, Russia’s Foreign Minister was quoted as saying Thursday.

“There should be no artificial limits, either in the sense of some kind of deadline, like ‘tomorrow or never’, or in the endless dragging out of the process,” Lavrov told Russian journalists in Singapore, Interfax news agency reported.