DTN News - IRAN NUCLEAR FACTOR: Major US-Israel Military Drill Postponed


DTN News - IRAN NUCLEAR FACTOR: Major US-Israel Military Drill Postponed

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP

 (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 15, 2012: Israel and the United States have agreed to postpone a major military defence exercise scheduled for spring, Israeli public radio reported Sunday, amid rising regional tension over Iran’s nuclear program.



The exercise, “Austere Challenge 12,” would be pushed back to the end of 2012 because of unspecified budgetary concerns, the radio said, citing military sources.



An Israeli defence ministry source speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP the delay had not been finalized.



“No final decision has been made yet, discussions with our American counterparts are ongoing,” he said.



But Israel’s army radio, citing a defence official, said the drill was being postponed to avoid “unnecessary headlines in such a tense period.”


The joint manoeuvre was to have been the biggest yet between the two allies, and was seen as an opportunity to display their joint military strength at a time of growing concern about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.



Israel, the United States and much of the international community accuse Iran of using its nuclear program to mask a weapons drive, a charge Tehran denies.


The postponement appeared to suggest fears the exercise could dangerously ramp up regional tensions, at a time when Iran has already threatened to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for one fifth of the world’s traded oil — in the event of a military strike or severe tightening of international sanctions over its nuclear program.



Meanwhile, the United States sent Iran a letter over its threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said Sunday, without revealing the letter’s contents.



“The U.S. ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, sent a letter to Mohammad Khazaie, Iran’s UN representative, which was conveyed by the Swiss ambassador, and finally Iraqi President Jalal Talabani delivered its contents to officials” in Iran, the official IRNA news agency quoted Ramin Mehmanparast as saying.



“We are in the process of studying the letter and if necessary we will respond.”



Last month, the Israelis insisted the joint manoeuvres were planned in advance and denied they were related to Iran.



“The exercise scenario involves notional, simulated events as well as some field training and is not in response to any real-world event,” the military told AFP.



The postponement was not expected to affect a visit to Israel by top U.S. military chief General Martin Dempsey, who is scheduled to arrive later this week and meet with Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.



But the delay was announced as reports suggested unease in U.S.-Israeli relations over the best response to Iran’s nuclear program, and after an Israeli official voiced “disappointment” at Washington’s approach.



Washington has spearheaded a push for international sanctions against Iran, including on its oil exports and financial institutions.



But Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Yaalon told public radio he thought U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration should be tougher.



“France and Britain understand that the sanctions must be strengthened, in particular against the Iranian Central Bank,” Yaalon said.



“The U.S. Senate is also in favour, but the U.S. government is hesitating, fearing higher oil prices in an election year,” Yaalon said. “It’s disappointing.”



Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, speaking Sunday ahead of a trip to Britain, also accused the international community of dragging its feet.



“It is regrettable that the international community has not yet used all the means at its disposal to stop the Iranian nuclear program,” he told public radio.



Israel has made no secret of its desire to see crippling sanctions imposed on Iran in a bid to slow its nuclear development, and reports suggest it has also taken other actions to delay the program.



The Jewish state is suspected of involvement both in a computer worm that reportedly set back Iran’s nuclear efforts, as well as a campaign of assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists.



Media reports have pointed the finger at Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad.



Foreign Policy magazine reported that Israel’s actions had created friction with Washington, and the Wall Street Journal said on Friday U.S. officials had warned Israel against unilateral military action against Iran.




Yaalon said Sunday that a military strike remained a last resort for Israel.



“Israel must defend itself. I hope that we will not arrive at that point,” he said.



 




Related News:











UK 'MUST REDOUBLE ECONOMIC EFFORTS', SAYS WILLIAM HAGUE



The Independent - ‎14 minutes ago‎



It's a girl, a film being released this year, documents the practice of killing unwanted baby girls ... It's a pity that Dr Richard Woolfson's research for Cow and Gate, published this week, didn't includ... If one player in La Liga could unveil ...








JOINT US-ISRAEL MILITARY EXERCISE POSTPONED



Malaysia Star - ‎32 minutes ago‎



JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The United States and Israel have postponed an upcoming joint military exercise until later in the year, but sources in both countries denied on Sunday that the move was taken to avoid further escalating tensions with Iran....








UK: EUROPE WILL ADOPT SANCTIONS ON IRANIAN OIL



ABC News - ‎1 hour ago‎



Britain's foreign secretary said Sunday that European nations will intensify pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, but insisted the West wasn't pressing for military action. William Hague told Sky News television that he believed the European...








THE SHORT LIFE EXPECTANCY OF IRANIAN NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS: ASSASSINATIONS WITH A ...



Huffington Post (blog) - ‎2 hours ago‎



The semi-official Fars news agency identified the victim as Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan, 32, "a deputy director of Natanz uranium enrichment facility for commercial affairs." Other reports describe him as a chemical engineer with an expertise in polymer ...










KILLING IRANIAN SCIENTISTS: WHEN TERRORISM ISN'T TERRORISM



ABC Online - ‎3 hours ago‎



Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them, and there is almost no kind of outrage - torture, the use of hostages, forced labour, mass deportations, imprisonment without trial, forgery, assassination, ...








JOINT US-ISRAEL MILITARY EXERCISE POSTPONED - SOURCE



Reuters Africa - ‎3 hours ago‎



JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The United States and Israel have postponed a joint military exercise due to be held in the coming weeks until later in the year, an Israeli security source told Reuters Sunday. "I can confirm the exercise has been postponed,...








US, ISRAEL POSTPONE MILITARY EXERCISE AMID TENSION WITH IRAN



Los Angeles Times - ‎3 hours ago‎



REPORTING FROM JERUSALEM -- The United States and Israel agreed to postpone a large joint military exercise from this spring to late in the year to avoid aggravating an already tense regional situation driven by conflicts with Iran, Israeli media ...










MAJOR US-ISRAEL MILITARY DRILL POSTPONED



AFP - ‎4 hours ago‎



JERUSALEM — Israel and the United States have agreed to postpone a major military defence exercise scheduled for spring, a senior security official said Sunday, amid rising regional tension over Iran's nuclear programme. "Israel and the United States ...










US MILITARY CHIEF TO ISRAEL AS IRAN TENSION GROWS



ABC News - ‎4 hours ago‎



By ARON HELLER AP The top US military commander is scheduled for talks in Israel this week, Israel said Sunday, at a time when the US is concerned that Israel might be preparing to attack Iran over its nuclear program. The Israeli Defense Ministry ...








STOPPING IRAN'S NUKES



Jerusalem Post - ‎4 hours ago‎



By JPOST EDITORIAL Iran seems intent on pushing forward with its nuclear program and there seems to be no surefire way of stopping it. If the current situation continues, we might have to face the horrific prospect of learning to live with a nuclear ...








ISRAEL & US CANCEL JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE



Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - ‎4 hours ago‎



(AGI) Jerusalem, Jan. 15 - The United States has asked Israel to delay joint military exercises scheduled for the next few weeks in order to avoid giving Iran an excuse to raise tensions. The exercise, code named Austere Challenge 12, ...








UK FOREIGN SECRETARY: EU TO AGREE ON IRAN OIL EMBARGO BY END OF JAN -REPORT



Wall Street Journal (India) - ‎4 hours ago‎



LONDON (Dow Jones)--Europe will agree on sanctions banning the purchase of oil from Iran by the end of the month, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said Sunday, according to London's Telegraph newspaper. Unnamed European Union officials have ...








JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN HEADED TO ISRAEL AMID IRAN THREAT



Fox News - ‎4 hours ago‎



Israel's military confirmed Sunday that Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey will travel to the Mideast nation this week for talks, as Israel's No. 2 public official suggested that President Obama is being meek about Iran ahead of the US ...










GIVE PEACE A CHANCE? US AND ISRAEL POSTPONE LARGEST JOINT DRILL



RT - ‎5 hours ago‎



“Austere Challenge 12”, the US-Israel joint-missile defense drill, has been postponed till the summer at the earliest, according to Israeli media. Some link the move to Washington's growing concern Israel may be planning a unilateral attack on Iran. ...










IRAN ACCUSES ISRAEL OF SCIENTIST DEATH



International News Network - ‎5 hours ago‎



Tehran: Iran's first Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said here on Sunday that the Zionist regime was undoubtedly behind the assassination of the Iranian nuclear scientist Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan. Addressing a local gathering, he said such an evil act ...








DANGEROUS GAMES IN THE GULF



Khaleej Times - ‎5 hours ago‎



The United States and Iran are playing an increasingly dangerous game of chicken in the Gulf. War could be only a ship collision or aircraft intrusion away. Nations often blunder into war due to miscalculation, arrogance or wrong intelligence. ...










MAJOR ISRAEL, US MILITARY DRILL POSTPONED OVER IRAN TENSIONS: REPORTS



National Post - ‎5 hours ago‎



JERUSALEM – Israel and the United States have agreed to postpone a major military defence exercise scheduled for spring, Israeli public radio reported Sunday, amid rising regional tension over Iran's nuclear program. The exercise, “Austere Challenge 12 ...








IRAN WILL GIVE A FIRM RESPONSE TO US, UK OVER ASSASSINATION: MINISTER



Tehran Times - ‎5 hours ago‎



TEHRAN – Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi has said that Iran will give a firm response to the United States, Britain, and Israel which had a hand in the assassination of the Iranian academic, Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan. Ahmadi-Roshan, a graduate of ...








US PLANS TO ELIMINATE ECONOMIC RIVALS THROUGH IRAN SANCTIONS: OFFICIAL



Tehran Times - ‎5 hours ago‎



TEHRAN – Through sanctions against Iran the United States is seeking to eliminate its economic rivals, particularly China and India, an Iranian Foreign Ministry official argues. The comment by Ramin Mehmanparast, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, ...








'CERTAIN INSPECTORS HAVE PROVIDED TERRORISTS WITH IRANIAN SCIENTISTS' PARTICULARS'



Tehran Times - ‎5 hours ago‎



TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has said that there is evidence that certain international inspectors, who have travelled to Iran to inspect (nuclear) facilities, have provided terrorist groups with Iranian nuclear ...










EUROPE SET TO ANNOUNCE BAN ON IRANIAN OIL, WILLIAM HAGUE SAYS



Telegraph.co.uk - ‎5 hours ago‎



Europe will agree sanctions banning the purchase of oil from Iran by the end of the month, William Hague, the foreign secretary, said on Sunday as Saudi Arabia promised it could boost output to make up the shortfall. By Richard Spencer, Middle East ...










EUROZONE MUST FOCUS ON GROWTH: BRITAIN



AFP - ‎5 hours ago‎



LONDON — Eurozone countries must concentrate on boosting growth and cutting regulation following the downgrading of several nations in the bloc, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Sunday. Hague said the decision on Friday by ratings agency ...










US MILITARY CHIEF TO VISIT ISRAEL AS IRAN TENSION GROWS



NDTV - ‎6 hours ago‎



AP, Updated: January 15, 2012 23:43 IST Jerusalem: The top US military commander is scheduled for talks in Israel this week, Israel said Sunday, at a time when the US is concerned that Israel might be preparing to attack Iran over its nuclear program. ...








'BACKING IRAN SANCTIONS HARMS ITALY'



Tehran Times - ‎6 hours ago‎



Iran's Ambassador to Italy Seyyed Mohammad-Ali Hosseini says supporting West-led sanction scenario against Iranian oil industry does not serve interests of the Italian nation. In an interview with Italian news agency ANSA on Saturday, ...










'NO PLANS' FOR WESTERN MILITARY ACTION ON SYRIA, IRAN



AFP - ‎6 hours ago‎



LONDON — Western nations have no immediate plans for military action to stop the repression of protests in Syria or to halt Iran's nuclear programme, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday. Asked if there was a possibility of a no-fly zone in ...










CONFESSIONS OF A MOSSAD SPY



National Post - ‎7 hours ago‎



A young woman is reunited with her mother in Tel Aviv after being one of 104 hostages held for a week by terrorists in 1974. Former spy Michael Ross was on Mossad's very first pathfinding mission into Iran in 1993. As a combatant in the Israeli ...








WHAT'S BEHIND EUROPE'S TOUGH STANCE ON IRAN?



Christian Science Monitor - ‎7 hours ago‎



European powers have agreed in principle to embargo Iranian oil, the lifeblood of Iran's economy, adding to tough sanctions already in place. By Robert Marquand, Staff Writer / January 15, 2012 Europe may give an impression of favoring diplomacy over ...










JOINT US-ISRAEL DRILL POSTPONED TO 'DEFUSE IRAN TENSIONS'



Ynetnews - ‎7 hours ago‎



A number of global media outlets said the exercise will likely take place in the summer – at the earliest. Israeli officials said the Americans asked to delay the drill so as not to heighten tensions with Iran over its nuclear program and avoid drawing ...








ISRAEL WAS BEHIND IRANIAN SCIENTIST'S DEATH, TIME REPORTS



Jewish Telegraphic Agency - ‎8 hours ago‎



JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's Mossad assassinated an Iranian scientist in a bomb attack, Time Magazine reported, citing unnamed Western intelligence sources. The report Saturday came as Iranian state television reported that the Islamic Republic had ...








EUROZONE RATINGS CUT SHOWS NEED TO SPUR GROWTH: UK



Economic Times - ‎8 hours ago‎



LONDON: Standard & Poor's decision to cut the sovereign credit ratings of nine euro zone countries shows Europe must step up its efforts to kick-start growth, Britain's foreign minister said on Sunday. William Hague also said Britain's Foreign Office ...










*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources AFP

*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News 

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 

©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS





Related Posts

There is no other posts in this category.
Subscribe Our Newsletter