Iran ridicules Dagan’s military strike remarks

"The fact that Zionist regime officials say they have silly ideas is important, as they had in the past many idiotic ideas," Iran FM says in reaction to former Mossad chief calling potential strike "foolish."

Iran on Tuesday addressed statements made by former Mossad chief Meir Dagan, that a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities is "foolish."

"The fact that the Zionist regime's officials say they have silly ideas is important, as they had in the past many idiotic ideas," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday during a news conference.

Dagan was harshly criticized by Israeli officials for his statements made May 6 during a lecture at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Dagan said that the effectiveness of an attack against Iran would be questionable but that it was almost certain that such a strike would lead to a regional war involving missile attacks from Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon and possibly Syria.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak harshly criticized Dagan on Sunday for his comments. “Meir Dagan has done a lot for the security of the state and completed his term outstandingly, leaving a lasting mark on what happens in the Middle East,” Barak said during a tour of the border with the Gaza Strip together with IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz and OC Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Tal Russo.

“I am not sure, however, that his remark, as reported in the media, is correct and I am certain that if we are to deal with these matters responsibly, then it is not right to share these thoughts – even if they are legitimate – with the public,” Barak added.

Dagan’s comments on Friday – his first time speaking publicly since retiring earlier this year – were widely interpreted as a possible attempt to undermine potential Israeli plans to take military action against Iran. He has said in the past that Israel needs to continue investing in covert action and that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon until 2015.

Yaakov Katz contributes to this report.

http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=219960