Rpt: Iran to expand nuke activities deep inside bunker

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And out of the story dominating the national conversation in Israel and around the world.

A new report saying that Iran is believed to be expanding right now its uranium enrichment activity deep inside of a mountain bunker.

Working toward quote full installation.

-- expanding nuclear activity estimated to be buried beneath some 265.

Feet of rock and soil.

And said to be giving Iran better protection against any Israeli or other military strikes.

Turning now to discuss -- ambassador Dore Gold former Israeli ambassador to the UN and foreign policy advisor to prime minister in Benjamin.

Netanyahu.

Investor pulled -- also the author of the rise of the nuclear Iran investor thank you very much for being back on the program.

Your response to this news because it was our understanding that this was something that Israel very much feared.

That Iran was essentially building this underground.

Bunker and that it would be more expansive and deeper than the international community would understand.

And thus render somewhat ineffective any preemptive strike by the Israelis.

Well I think the Iran and Iranians are showing their cards.

You know the old in the -- in Richmond site.

That has.

-- that's buried underground under about thirty feet of rock and soil.

This new decided -- out here -- near home.

Is roughly as you said 260 feet -- underground it's in a mountain.

And of course the Iranians want to enrich uranium for the 20% level.

They say it's for medical isotopes.

Wolf they need enriched uranium for medical isotopes.

What they have to bury it into a mountain 200 feet feet.

This looks like a preliminary move in my personal judgment towards what's called nuclear breakout.

When a country moves away from its obligations to the international atomic energy agency and tries to establish quickly.

Any nuclear.

Weapons capability by having weapons grade uranium.

As a practical matter I'm not asking you to give up -- you know Israeli military secrets but as a practical matter based on what's been reported already publicly.

Does Israel have the capacity to take out such a facility 265 feet below ground.

-- again maybe it's because of my training as a former ambassador I don't like to speculate -- were called.

What are called operational issues so you know.

I would really don't have a a comment on that.

Don't speak to that -- -- -- and that I want to ask you about the latest reports out of Israel.

Two -- number one -- that more and more officials there are expressing their displeasure with the public statements by United States officials.

Condemning or urging Israel not to attack Iran that seems to be one -- that's emerging over the anyone Americans the American generals and -- want to stop criticizing it.

Number 20.

You tell me whether there is a split.

Coming now with them at the highest factions of the government about whether.

Israel should.

Be about to unleash a strike against Iran because we read reports that President Shimon Peres.

Is going to tell -- Barack Obama he doesn't believe Israel should do it.

And whether that gels with how Netanyahu feels.

How he feels.

Well first well virtual let's be very clear Israel like the United States says all options are on the table but you know.

The whole issue of Israel having to defend itself would force is an issue of last resort where hope it.

That these new intensified sanctions.

That the United States and the European Union have initiated might movie around in a better direction although we're frankly aware.

That sanctions take a long time and in the sanctions that changed apartheid South Africa to twelve years.

Twelve years from our -- -- have long range rockets that in the New York so I don't think we want to wait twelve years but we're gonna give it chance and all that speculation is sort of going back and forth in the press.

Let's focus on not having public statements by too many officials and and focus on getting Iran to adhere to its international obligations.

As far as the will of the Israeli government to do it is there a split.

Is there a a split is there a -- -- at the highest levels about how to handle another story yet you pointed out there is a front page headline in RX one of the newspapers and Israel this morning.

-- president Peres has a different view than the Israeli government.

He -- now denied that and he's made clear just like Israeli ministers just like the United States says.

All options are on the table nothing's taken off but first and foremost let's get the international committee.

Community to use very firm pressure.

On Iran because Iran is now in violation.

Of some six UN Security Council resolutions as it continues to enrich uranium.

As it refused to cooperate just this week with the international atomic energy agency.

So and unfortunately I have to ratchet up the sanctions again Iran to move.

Yeah and -- does remain a very big question about whether even that will produce any any meaningful results ambassador gold thank -- so much sir.

My pleasure.

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Rpt: Iran to expand nuke activities deep inside bunker

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