The Chief of General Staff said Iran was the only remaining threat to the country's existence. However, Israel would not wage a military strike against Iran.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Israel's army chief has ruled out a pre-emptive attack against Iranian nuclear sites, despite its alleged effort to build nuclear weapons, an Israeli newspaper reported yesterday.

Speaking at Haifa University on Tuesday night, military Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz said Iran was the only remaining threat to the country's existence. However, Israel would not wage a military strike against Iran, he said.

Tehran last week resumed research on nuclear fuel. Iran says it aims to develop peaceful nuclear energy, but western nations and Israel believe Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Israel considers Iran its greatest threat, and recent statements by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calling for Israel's destruction have only fuelled those fears.

French defence chief General Henri Bentegeat backed the Israeli stance, saying the use of military force against Iran to prevent it pursuing its nuclear programme would be "completely mad". "I think there are still paths of negotiation which have not been explored," General Bentegeat said. "I don't think it would be reasonable to envisage military action against Iran to prevent it having this nuclear programme. That would create a dreadful drama in the Middle East".

The Haaretz daily newspaper reported that Israel was holding talks with US and European officials about possible international sanctions on Iran. Israel has been working to try to create an international coalition to pressure Iran and yesterday a team of top Israeli security officials was in Russia to seek support against Tehran in the UN Security Council.

• Israel
• russia
• un
• nuclear
• weapon
• iran
• tehran