Iran calls Israel 'dangerous regime'
Following IAF drill said to be preparation for attack on Iran if it continues its nuclear program, Iranian government spokesman says 'Israel impediment to peace, calm in world'
When asked about the reported exercises, Iranian government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said: "It demonstrates the Islamic Republic of Iran's view that this (Israel ) is a dangerous regime and an impediment to peace and calm in the region and world."
Elham added that the exercises prove Israel's leadership ''jeopardizes global peace and security.'' He also said in the Saturday comments that Iran believes Israel has no ability to strike its nuclear program.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office declined to comment on the exercise, first reported in the New York Times. But a senior lawmaker from the Kadima Party said on Saturday that diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program have failed and that the next one or two years would be critical.
Tzachi Hanegbi, who heads parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, told Israel Radio that the world had to decide how to proceed. A military spokesman said of the Times report: "The Israeli Air Force regularly trains for various missions in order to confront and meet the challenges posed by the threats facing Israel ."
Citing unidentified American officials, the Times said more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in the first week of June. It said the exercise appeared to be an effort to focus on long-range strikes and illustrates the seriousness with which Israel views Iran's nuclear program.
Freeze for freeze
Six major powers, including the United States, last week offered Iran help in developing a civilian nuclear program and other benefits in their latest attempt to resolve a long-running row that has helped pushed oil prices to record highs.
Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said Tehran was ready to start negotiations "based on a win-win principle," the official IRNA news agency said. But it "will not bow to any illogical demands that would deprive it of its rights to continue with its peaceful nuclear activities," he added.
Diplomats said on Friday the six powers had offered Iran preliminary talks on its nuclear program, on condition it limit enrichment to current levels for six weeks in exchange for a freeze on moves towards harsher sanctions.
Asked whether such a "freeze-for-freeze" proposal would be acceptable to Iran, Elham told reporters: "About suspension, it has been said that suspension of activities and suspension of enrichment is not a logical issue that would be acceptable and in any case the continuation of negotiations will not be based on enrichment suspension."
"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues with enrichment non-stop," Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Tehran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told Iran's state broadcaster in an interview.
Under the "freeze-for-freeze" proposal, Iran would not expand enrichment capacity by adding centrifuge machines for a six-week period, during which the powers would stop moves to sharpen the mild sanctions already in force, the diplomats said.
The interim period would enable "pre-negotiations" to agree parameters for formal negotiations to put the incentives into effect, once Iran has fully suspended enrichment, they said.
