Israel's Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon says Iran [which has expertise to build nuclear weapons] will have the necessary materials to do so in 3 years. Urges world to make it chose between “nuclear capability and surviving”

From AP,

Israel's minister of strategic affairs said Wednesday that technical difficulties have pushed back the Iranian timetable for producing a nuclear weapon.

Moshe Yaalon, a former military chief of staff whose portfolio includes monitoring Iran, said he believes Iran is at least three years away from developing a nuclear bomb. Iran denies such intentions.

Israeli military officials have said Iran has the expertise to build a bomb, but still needs time to gather the necessary materials.

Israel considers Iran its most dangerous enemy because of its nuclear program, missiles and calls for Israel's destruction. Iran also supports the anti-Israel Hamas and Hezbollah militant groups.

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From Arutz Sheva

Iran now is at least three years away from being able to produce a nuclear bomb because of technical problems and sanctions, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon told Voice of Israel government radio Wednesday.

Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities recently suffered severe damage from the Stuxnet virus. Israel has been widely mentioned as being behind the infection of Iran’s computers with the virus.

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From Reuters

The United States and its allies have up to three years to curb Iran's nuclear programme, which has been set back by technical difficulties and sanctions, a senior Israeli official said on Wednesday.

"I believe that this effort [U.S.-led action against Tehran] will grow, and will include areas beyond sanctions, to convince the Iranian regime that, effectively, it must choose between continuing to seek nuclear capability and surviving," Yaalon told Israel Radio.

Yaalon, a former armed forces chief, noted Iran's uranium enrichment plan had suffered setbacks.

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From BBC

The statement came a month after Iran said centrifuges used in uranium enrichment had been sabotaged.

There are suspicions, denied by Iran, that the centrifuges were targeted by the Stuxnet computer worm.

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Source: AP, Arutz Sheva, BBC, Reuters

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Comments: Regime change in Iran might be the best way to stop not only the nuclear weapons program but also support for Islamic extremism and terrorism.

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Some previous similar or related stories:

Iran president Ahmadinejad sacks foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki, replacement is top nuclear official Ali Akbar Salehi - Nuclearizing policy

A UN report says North Korea supplying Iran, Syria and Myanmar with ballistic and nuclear equipment

WikiLeaks summary - Saudis donors fund terrorists, Saudi king wants Iranian snake's head cut off, Iranian Red Crescent is a front group for Iran [North Korea sent to Iran 19 of the missiles (capable of reaching Western Europe), capable of carrying a nuclear warhead' and it 'significantly advanced Iran’s development of intercontinental ballistic missiles]

Iranian President Ahmadinejad claims influence of Satan (US) behind Russian decision to cancel S-300 missile sale [anti-aircraft missiles]

Hugo Chavez and Iran in an Unholy alliance [Chavez supports Iran's nuclear program. Contract with Russia to build nuclear power plant in Venezuela]

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