Iran could have bomb by July, security sources say
Iran could have bomb by July, security sources say | The Times of Israel.
Disgruntled official quoted by Maariv says Obama ‘threw sand in Israel’s eyes’ during visit last week, which seemed to convince Jerusalem to hold back on military action
Iran could have the capability to build a nuclear bomb by July, unnamed security sources said in a report published Friday.
The sources added that Israel’s leadership had been mollified by US President Barack Obama’s visit earlier this month, which saw Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seemingly cotton to Washington’s later timeline on when Iran could have a nuclear bomb.
The security sources, said to be close to Netanyahu’s talks with Obama, claimed that after seeing North Korea wield nuclear weapons despite heavy Western opposition, Tehran’s leadership had also decided to break out toward the bomb, which could be ready between July and September.
“The Iranians aren’t messing around after North Korea. What Kim Jong Un has Ahmadinejad has,” a source told the Israeli daily Maariv, referring to North Korea’s and Iran’s respective leaders. “At the end of 2012 the Iranians carried out a simulation of a nuclear explosion and since then have been advancing at a murderous pace every day.”
Last year, Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly that Iran could have the bomb by spring 2013, but Israeli officials have revised the assessment several times to later dates. Obama, who visited Israel last week to discuss cooperation on Iran, among other things, seemed to convince Netanyahu to go along with the US timeline, which holds that Iran is still a year away and has not yet decided to pursue a nuclear weapon.
However, the sources said Obama’s charm offensive had managed to “buy” Netanyahu — and Israel ended up losing out, with Jerusalem’s hands now tied on Iran.
“The president threw sand in our eyes and now we are reaping the storm,” one source said. ”They bought us with flattery and displays of friendship, but managed to evade any responsibility for a strike.”
While Israel has urged for a military option against Tehran’s nuclear program, the US has maintained that time remains for diplomacy and sanctions to end the standoff. Netanyahu’s statements during Obama’s visit seemed to indicate Israel would not act without US backing, which many analysts say would be necessary for an effective attack.
Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but several rounds of talks over allowing in inspectors or curbing enrichment have yielded few results.
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WarSclerotic 
March 29, 2013 at 1:48 PM
We shall not ask when Israel will act in Iran but asking when Iran will get the Bomb, that will be the answer.
March 29, 2013 at 6:32 PM
What about a margin of error ?
It looks like Tsahal only wants to strike at the last second.
But what if there is an error in the assessment of the exact time when Iran gets the Bomb ?
I would strike at least two years before the last second.
Because a small mistake, an assessment off by one month, could be the difference between life and death for Israel.
Double agents not recognized as such, a small secret base,…a deadly mistake is a real possibility. Ariel Sharon wrote about the dangers of the Israeli complex of superiority in his autobiography…he witnessed tragic consequences on the battlefield.
March 30, 2013 at 1:09 AM
“Obama ‘threw sand in Israel’s eyes’ during visit last week, which seemed to convince Jerusalem to hold back on military action”
Seriously, what did they expect?
Obavez is evil, but he is not stupid. He is a master manipulator.
Massive media support and republican incompetence aside, despite his many broken promises and his lousy record he convinced enough people to elect him again.
That was Hope and Change 2.0.
His Israel visit was Hope and Change 3.0.