Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 1 /Trend/
Israeli ambassadors in Western countries have been instructed to inform high-ranking politicians that the window of opportunity for imposing effective sanctions on Iran is closing, as part of a renewed diplomatic offensive aimed at using new sanctions to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb, Haaretz reported.
The Foreign Ministry campaign, which began in mid-September, seeks to convince the United States, European Union member states and other Western countries to impose the sanctions immediately because Iran is continuing to develop its nuclear program.
"The significant progress that has taken place on all the components of the Iranian nuclear program should be emphasized, especially uranium enrichment," said a classified cable sent to Israeli ambassadors in several dozen countries. "The Iranian program is military, and in light of International Atomic Energy Agency reports, there is an increased fear that the Iranians are developing a nuclear warhead for ballistic missiles."
The ambassadors were asked to tell the equivalent of the foreign ministries and prime minister's offices in the countries where they are serving that there isn't much time left to stop the nuclear program through diplomatic means.
The sanctions campaign comes ahead of the planned November 8 release of an IAEA report, which is expected to reveal new details about the scope of Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA is reportedly preparing to bring proof that Iran is attempting to build a nuclear bomb.
In June, the Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Fereidoun Abbasi-Davani announced that Iran is going to install 164-centrifuge cascades of new generation machines soon and to triple the production of 20-percent enriched uranium.
He added the centrifuges would be installed both in Fordo and Natanz nuclear facilities. Abbasi underlined that Iran intends to produce 20-percent enriched fuel in Fordo nuclear facilities under the IAEA supervision.
In November 2009, Iran announced about its plan to build ten new enrichment facilities in its territory.
Refined uranium is used both to produce nuclear weapons and as fuel for nuclear power plants. The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has denied the charges, saying its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity and producing isotopes to treat medical patients.
Edited by T.Konyayeva.