Gates will replace Donald Rumsfeld. Asked at his U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee nomination hearing whether he believed that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons capability, he answered: "Yes, sir, I do." He also answered in the affirmative that he believes Iran’s leadership to be lying.
Gates said that there were more powerful forces in Iran than just its president and they are determined to achieve nuclear weapons, “as a deterrent against nuclear countries surrounding them – Pakistan in the east, Russia in the north, Israel in the west and the United States in the Persian Gulf.”
He said he is not certain that Iran would attack the Jewish state, since "the risks for them (Iran) are enormously high." He added, though, "I don't think anybody can provide that assurance [to Israel that an attack won’t occur."
Gates summed up his position saying he would not advise a U.S. attack on Iran except as an “absolute last resort” if critical U.S. interests are threatened.
Ahmadinejad Warns Europe
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatened European nations Tuesday that Iran would consider any decision to join sanctions against Iran due to its nuclear project an act of hostility.
The statement came as representatives from the United Nations Security Council’s permanent member nations met in Paris to discuss steps to be taken against Iran.
"I'm telling you in plain language that from now on, if you try, whether in your propaganda or at international organizations, to take steps against the rights of the Iranian nation, the Iranian nation will consider it an act of hostility," Ahmadinejad said, addressing European nations during a speech in northern Iran.
"Our path to reach the nuclear summit is in the final phase, and no more than one more step is needed,” he added. "Iran possesses the nuclear fuel cycle completely and by God's will it will undertake necessary measures to produce nuclear fuel for all of its nuclear power stations.”
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency Tuesday that Iran is intent on materializing all its nuclear Research and Development projects by the end of the Islamic year, which falls out on March 19.
Iran’s Other Project
Iran's Foreign Ministry is making preparations for a two-day conference that will take place next week and “examine the evidence” of there having been a Holocaust.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mohammadi said the December 10-11 conference will be attended by 67 foreign researchers from 30 countries.
The conference was the initiative of Ahmadinejad, who has called the genocide perpetrated by the Nazi regime during World War II “exaggerated” and a "myth."
Mohammadi said that the conference would be a truly scientific event to determine whether the Holocaust took place. “If Iran is indeed convinced that the Holocaust took place, the next question will be how many Jews were murdered and why the Palestinians need to suffer because of an event that took place in Europe 60 years ago,” he added.
Israel and Iran Meeting – About Old Debts
Israeli and Iranian representatives have been meeting in secret in Switzerland, according to Army Radio.
The meetings are with regard to an Israeli debt to Iran for oil purchased during the years prior to the 1979 Islamic revolution there. A smaller amount was owed to Israeli construction companies for projects undertaken in Iran. The two countries were diplomatically friendly from the 50s to the 70s, under the pro-West Shah of Iran.