Hagel Assures "Israel": All Options on Table Regarding Iran

Local Editor

US War Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sunday the United States and "Israel" see "exactly the same threat from Iran."
However, he noted that "they differ on when it may reach the point of requiring US or "Israeli" military action."
Hagel held out hope Sunday for a non-military way to ending the so-called Iranian threat.
However, he also emphasized Washington's willingness to let the Zionist entity decide whether and when it might strike Tehran.

Hagel, on his first visit to "Israel" as Pentagon chief, seemed intent on burying the image that Republican critics painted of him as insufficiently supportive of the Zionist entity.
""Israel" will make the decision that "Israel" must make to protect itself, to defend itself," Hagel told reporters before arriving to the Zionist entity to begin a week-long tour of the Middle East.
Hagel said international penalties are taking a heavy toll on Iran, though he stessed no one can be sure that economic coercion will compel Iran to change course.

Referring to sanctions and diplomacy, Hagel said, "these other tracks do have some time to continue to try to influence the outcome in Iran."

In parallel, Hagel assured "Israel" that while Washington shares a commitment to ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon, there "may well be some differences between the two allies on the question of when Iran's leaders might decide to go for a bomb."
"When you back down into the specifics of the timing of when and if Iran decides to pursue a nuclear weapon, there may well be some differences," he said.
"In dealing with Iran, every option must be on the table," he said.

During his two-day visit to the Zionist entity, Hagel was expected to further discuss a US arms deal that would provide "Israel" with missiles for its fighter aircraft, plus KC-135 refueling planes that could be used in a long-range strike on a country such as Iran, as well as V-22 Osprey transport planes. He called the proposed sale a "very clear signal" to Iran.

"The bottom line is, Iran is a threat - a real threat," he said.

Also Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Istanbul, where he urged Turkey to speed up and cement an American-brokered rapprochement with "Israel".
After his talks in Tel Aviv, Hagel planned stops in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are part of a $10 billion proposed US arms sale that includes "Israel." The UAE would get about 26 F-16 fighters and it and Saudi Arabia would get advanced air-launched missiles.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org