BICOM

Former IDF chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi said yesterday that Israel must operate behind the scenes against Iran, but should also keep the military option on the table, ready to act alone if necessary.

During a speech at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, Ashkenazi stressed that Israel’s strategy on Iran must integrate covert action and sanctions, “but at the same time keep a reliable military option on the table with the willingness to use it if necessary,” Ashkenazi said.

As IDF chief of staff Ashkenazi was considered an advocate of the more moderate approach towards Iran, which stressed the need to exhaust all international diplomatic efforts before an attack is authorised. His comments yesterday perhaps point to recent progress Iran has made in its nuclear enrichment and the need, despite new sanctions, to remain diligent in case Iran’s leadership decide to push forward with its nuclear activities.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the new round of sanctions by the EU would be “futile,” but added that his country was ready to resume nuclear talks with the six world powers – the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.