The Talk of Attack

Iran’s controversial nuclear program has once again sparked talk of a possible Israeli military strike, with the Israeli press reporting that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been seriously debating the options. In turn, the Iranians have struck a defiant tone. The angry rhetoric in both countries is higher than at any point in at least a year.

But a public opinion poll published by Haaretz on Nov. 3 found Israelis divided about a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, with 41 percent in favor, 39 percent opposed and 20 percent undecided.

The following are select quotes—first by senior Israeli officials about Iran’s program, the options and the government’s behind-closed-door deliberations, and second from Iranian officials on the country’s military capabilities and their reaction to possible Israeli military action.

Israel

President Shimon Peres on Nov. 4
"It would seem that Iran is getting closer to having nuclear weapons…. Intelligence services of all countries understand that time is running out and they are warning their leaders."
"In the time that remains, we must urge the other nations of the world to act, and tell them that it is time to stand behind the promise that was made to us, to fulfill their responsibility, whether that means serious sanctions or whether it means a military operation."

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Nov. 6
"We can't remove any option from the table, but there is no immediate emergency. Our position has not changed and will not change, we believe that Iran must be prevented from achieving nuclear [weapons] capability."
"We strongly believe that sanctions are effective or could be effective if they are ... paralyzing enough, that diplomacy could work if enough unity could be synchronized between the major players, but that no option should be removed from the table."

Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor on Nov. 2
"A public debate about this is nothing less than a scandal … The public elected a government to make decisions about things like this in secret. The public's right to know does not include the debate about classified matters like this."

Iran

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Nov. 6
"Yes, we have military capabilities that are different from any other country in the region…Iran is increasing in capability and advancement and therefore we are able to compete with Israel and the West and especially the United States."
"The U.S. fears Iran's capability…Iran will not permit a move against it."

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Nov. 5
"We have no problem with the release of documents but we believe that these documents are invalid…When currency is forged it has all the characteristics of real currency, but it is fake, and the documents claimed by the agency are also like this.”

Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, Armed Forces chief of staff on Nov. 2
"The Zionist regime's military attack against Iran will inflict heavy damages to the US as well as the Zionist regime."

Ayatollah Mahmoud Alavi, member of the Assembly of Experts, on Nov. 6
"The recent threats of the Zionist regime against Iran are more for internal consumption for themselves and their masters who are struggling with the Wall Street movement."
"There is a difference between the roar of a lion and the scream of a cat that has been trapped in a corner…And this threat of the Zionist regime and its master America is like the scream of a cornered cat.”

Ayatollah Ahmed Khatami, on Nov. 7
"If Mr. Amano acts like an instrument without will in the hands of the United States and publishes lies by presenting them as documents, the IAEA will lose the little credibility it has left."