Israeli official: Iran nuclear claim shows threat

Published April 7, 2012 2:18PM (EDT)

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli official says a prominent Iranian lawmaker's claim that Tehran has the knowledge and scientific capability to produce atomic weapons reinforces Israel's view that the Islamic Republic's disputed nuclear program has a military dimension.

The Israeli official on Saturday reiterated demands that Israel's prime minister issued last month: Iran must stop enriching uranium, remove all military-grade enriched material from the country, and dismantle its Fordo nuclear research site.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Iranian lawmaker Gholamreza Mesbahi Moghadam's comment on the Iranian parliament's website late Friday was the first time a prominent Iranian politician has publicly stated that Tehran has the capability to build a nuclear bomb.


By Salon Staff

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