Russia ex-PM: Israeli strike will force Iran to make own weapons of mass destructionAugust 8, 2012 - 12:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities are possible but in case they are delivered they will have small impact on Iran and on the contrary will push Tehran into producing weapons of mass destruction, former Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov told Rossiiskaya Gazeta daily, according to RIA Novosti. “The United States does not want this airstrike to be delivered before the presidential election. They [the U.S.] are restraining Israel. But we must understand that both American and Israeli administrations have various [political] forces that express different positions,” Primakov, who is also an expert on the Middle East, said. Primakov said Iran is capable to recover in two years in case it is subjected to an airstrike, but after this period Tehran will withdraw from the Nuclear Weapons Non-proliferationTreaty and will start making its own weapons of mass destruction. Israel and Western powers suspect Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its program is of a civilian nature. Israel has recently stepped up its verbal threats to attack Iran if it does not abandon its nuclear ambitions. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | 17 bridges collapse as a result of floods in Armenia As a result of floods in Armenia’s northern Lori and Tavush provinces, 17 bridges, including five large ones, have collapsed. Armenia: Top cleric to retain title as he bids to become interim PM Galstanyan said earlier that the interim government would be tasked with stopping the “destruction of our homeland”. Ex-mayor of Karabakh capital arrested in Yerevan Ex-mayor of the Nagorno-Karabakh city of Stepanakert David Sargsyan has been arrested for 20 days. 269 people evacuated amid severe floods in Armenia’s north According to the Interior Ministry, 269 people have been evacuated from their homes in Lori and Tavush provinces. |