President Moshe Katsav believes Iran may have nuclear weapons by 2007

ISRAELI President Moshe Katsav


Iran to have nukes by '2007'
By Mark Dunn
March 04, 2005
From:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12439073-38201,00.html

ISRAELI President Moshe Katsav believes Iran may have nuclear weapons by 2007 and threaten not only Israel's existence but also provide the world with its most deadly challenge.
Mr Katsav said in Melbourne yesterday Iran was following North Korea in calling the world's bluff on a nuclear program while buying time to develop atomic weapons.
"They are on the way to achieving nuclear technology. I cannot put my finger on 2007, it could be a year here or a year later but we are almost at the last moment," Mr Katsav told the Herald Sun.
Born a Sephardic Jew in Iran before moving to Israel as a child, the President said an undemocratic Iran, with links to terrorism and seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, was a "big danger for stability and peace in the world".
But he said European offers of economic incentives to Iran to forgo its nuclear ambition would not work.
"For them North Korea is an example," he said.
"Every day Iran makes one more step towards its target, its destination (of nuclear arms)."
He said only strong United Nations Security Council action and urgent pressure from the outside world could stop Iran building the bomb.
"I believe that it (military intervention) will not be necessary," he said.
In a wide-ranging interview after a lunch with business and Jewish leaders at Richard and Jeanne Pratt's Kew mansion, Raheen, Mr Katsav revealed the prospect of a free trade agreement between Australia and Israel had been raised with Prime Minister John Howard on Tuesday.
He said Mr Howard appeared keen to pursue it.
Mr Katsav, the first Israeli president to visit Australia in 18 years, also hoped for peace in the Middle East given the advances made so far by Palestine's new President Abu Mazen in denouncing terrorism.