AFP – November 9, 2007
Israel and the United States have agreed to appoint two working committees in order to hone a joint strategy against Iran's nuclear ambitions, public radio reported on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz headed discussions on the matter in the United States this week, it said.
One committee will deal with intelligence on Iran's nuclear drive and the other with international sanctions, the chief weapon in an effort to convince Tehran to halt uranium enrichment.
The next formal discussions between Israeli and US officials on Iran will be in two months in Israel, the radio station reported.
On Thursday, Mofaz called for Mohamed ElBaradei to be removed as head of UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying he had turned a blind eye to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Public radio quoted unnamed Israeli officials as saying the Mofaz delegation to Washington fed precise intelligence to the United States, alluding to satellite photographs.
Israel and the United States are leading the campaign against Iran's nuclear programme, believing it to be a cover to develop an atomic bomb.
Tehran insists its activities are aimed solely at producing electricity for a growing population once fossil fuels run out.
Israel considers Iran its chief enemy after repeated statements by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that the Jewish state should be wiped off the map.
It belongs to the UN nuclear watchdog but is not a signatory to its key Non-Proliferation Treaty, and is widely considered to have the Middle East's sole – if undeclared – nuclear arsenal.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5heSX5zuDqDR849yZGhm0CBjLUB7g
Last updated 12/11/2007
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