Iran, Israel Trade Criticisms Over Nuclear Arms
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi (file photo)
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22 September 2004 -- Israel and Iran have criticized each other, saying the other country is threatening peace in the Middle East.
Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said at the United Nations on Wednesdaty that the U.N. Security Council should move to sanction Iran, saying the Islamic republic will never abandon its alleged quest for nuclear weapons.
Later that same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Israel is a threat to the Middle East because of its alleged nuclear weapons.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said there are no current plans to attack Iran over its nuclear program, but did not rule out military options.
"We're talking about diplomacy and political efforts to stop this movement on the part of the Iranians toward a nuclear weapon and we're not talking about strikes but every option, of course, always remains on the table," he said.
Powell also said Iran faces possible UN Security Council action if it does not respond to international concerns over its nuclear activities by November.
(AFP/Reuters/AP)