Russia warned Israel not to attack Iran over its nuclear program,
saying on Wednesday that military action would have catastrophic
consequences. "Of course any possible military scenario against
Iran will be catastrophic for the region and for the whole system of
international relations," Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said. "Therefore I hope Israel understands all these consequences ... and
they should also consider the consequences of such action for
themselves," Gatilov said at a news conference. Gatilov's comments came as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Tehran's nuclear course would not change regardless of international sanctions, assassinations or other pressures. "With
God's help, and without paying attention to propaganda, Iran's nuclear
course should continue firmly and seriously ... Pressures, sanctions and
assassinations will bear no fruit. No obstacles can stop Iran's nuclear
work."
Khamenei was speaking on state television shortly after the UN nuclear watchdog declared a collapse in talks with Iran aimed at getting it to address suspicions that it is covertly seeking nuclear weapons capability.
The Islamic Republic denies this, saying its program to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel is for peaceful energy only. But
Iran's refusal to curb sensitive atomic activities with both civilian
and military purposes, and its track record of secrecy and restricting
UN inspections, have drawn increasingly harsh UN and separate US and
European sanctions, now targeting its economically vital oil exports. Several
Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in bombings over the past
two years, attacks that Tehran has blamed on arch-adversary Israel. The
Jewish state has not commented. The United States and Israel have
not ruled out resorting to military action against Iran if they conclude
that diplomacy and sanctions will not stop it from developing a nuclear
warhead.
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