Region | Palestinian Territories
Israel rules out Iran strike
Israel's army chief has ruled out a pre-emptive attack against Iranian nuclear sites while France says any military action would be 'completely mad'
- Agencies
- Published: 23:32 May 3, 2009
Occupied Jerusalem: Israel's army chief has ruled out a pre-emptive attack against Iranian nuclear sites, according to reports in the Israeli press.
Speaking at Haifa University on Tuesday night, Israeli Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said that Iran, said: "Even though we are talking about an immediate threat, we aren't the ones who should do this."
Instead the country is reportedly involved in talks with the US and Europe over possible international sanctions which could be applied to Iran.
According to The Haaretz newspaper, these include barring Iran's football team from the World Cup, denying visas to top Iranian officials and preventing Iranian aircraft from landing abroad.
The news comes as the chief of France's defence staff said any attempt to use military force against Iran would be 'completely mad'.
General Henri Bentegeat, said: "I think there are still paths of negotiation which have not been explored. I don't think it would be reasonable to envisage military action against Iran to prevent it having this nuclear programme.
"That would create a dreadful drama in the Middle East ... I think that at the moment it would be completely mad."
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