Content deleted Content added
Line 242: ===Middle Eastern views === The ''[[New York Times]]'' newspaper reports Iran's nuclear program has spurred interest in establishing nuclear power programs by a number of neighboring countries, including [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Turkey]] and [[Egypt]]. According to the report, "roughly a dozen states in the region have recently turned to the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] in Vienna for help in starting" nuclear programs.<ref>"Eye on Iran, Rivals Pursuing Nuclear Power", WILLIAM J. BROAD and DAVID E. SANGER, ''New York Times'', April 15, 2007 </ref> The article also described neighbouring states as very hostile to any nuclear weapons program Iran might embark on, stating "many diplomats and analysts say that the Sunni Arab governments are so anxious about Iran’s nuclear progress that they would even, grudgingly, support a United States military strike against Iran." However, both Egypt and Saudi Arabia have had nuclear programs that predate the controversy over Iran's nuclear program. [http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/Egypt/Nuclear/index_1692.html Egypt] was also found to have hidden nuclear activities from the IAEA. The interest in nuclear power shown by the Mideast nations is also shared by many nations, and corresponds to an increased world-wide interest in nuclear power. ===Israeli views=== Israel characterizes Iran's nuclear program as an "existential threat" to that nation.<ref>[http://www.adl.org/PresRele/IslME_62/4712_62.htm Iran Poses Dangerous Threat, Peres Tells ADL - ADL Press Release, May 9, 2005]</ref> However, some Israeli officials have rejected such views.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/916758.html Livni behind closed doors: Iran nukes pose little threat to Israel, By Gidi Weitz and Na'ama Lanski, Haaretz October 25 2007]</ref><ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3461175,00.html Israel cannot be destroyed, says former Mossad chief, YnetNews, October 18 2007]</ref> Israel has rejected the 2007 National Intelligence Estimate conclusion that Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003, insisting that it has additional evidence of an active and continued Iranian nuclear weapons program.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/world/middleeast/05webreact.html?ref=world Israel Unconvinced Iran Has Dropped Nuclear Program, By STEVEN ERLANGER and GRAHAM BOWLEY New York Times, December 5, 2007]</ref><ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1196847294698&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull PM: Israel to expose Iran's nuclear arms program, By HERB KEINON, Jerusalem Post Dec 9, 2007]</ref> Israel has rejected the IAEA's findings on Iran, and Israeli officials have called for the resignation of IAEA Director General ElBaradei, accusing him of being "pro-Iranian."<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1195127517568&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Israel: IAEA's report 'unacceptable' - Jerusalem Post Nov 16, 2007]</ref> <ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL09395804 Israeli minister says sack ElBaradei over Iran, Reuters Sun Mar 9, 2008]</ref> ===US and European viewpoint=== | |||