Israel Agrees to U.S. View on Iran; Does it Mean No Military Strike Soon?

The Israeli officials have agreed to the U.S. assessment that Iran has not yet decided on the actual construction of a nuclear bomb, the Associated Press reported quoting senior Israeli government and defense figures.

Israel has been accusing Iran of trying to build bombs. Of late, Israel has escalated its rhetoric on the need for military strike on Iran.

Israel is of the view that Iran can build a nuclear bomb any time and attacks on their nuclear stations are imperative to end the danger for ever.

However, the U.S. has been trying to reason out with Israel on the implications of an all out war with Iran.

Though the U.S. has agreed in principle that Iran might have acquired the knowhow and resources to build a nuclear bomb by now, it believes that Iran has not built any bomb and would not attempt it soon.

Israel, on the other hand, has been pressing on the need for a military attack to stop Iran from building the bombs. Even when it agrees with American view of no danger at the moment, its concern is that Iran might be buying time to assemble its nuclear weapons and to secure it underground, by pretending innocence over the issue.

Quite naturally, Israel believes that Iran should not be given the time they are seeking.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, Iran, whose leader foments terrorism and violence around the globe and calls for our destruction ... this regime must never be allowed to have nuclear weapons, Associated Press reported.

Meanwhile, America and other world powers are doing their best to push off any military strike on Iran for most obvious reasons. America believes that there is still time to convince Iran and a military strike, even if it is by Israel, will be catastrophic to American and world interests at large.

World economy is going through one of its worst phases and a war on Iran will jeopardize the economic recovery measures being undertaken by different countries. The war would trigger regional conflicts and will directly affect the oil supply and raise the oil prices. Further, America won't prefer to have a war now, as its presidential elections are scheduled ahead in November.

For that matter, though Israel speaks of attacking Iran itself, America and other countries have concern about Israel's ability to face the retaliation from Iran. Even if Israel could start the war and attack Iranian targets, Israel will have to face Iranian retaliation. The situation would indeed be complex as Israel most probably will have to fight not just Iran but also its other enemies like Palestine militants, Hamas and other Iranian-friendly forces in the gulf region.

Given such a situation, America will also be dragged into the war, even if it doesn't wish, to safeguard its ally Israel. Any such scenario would be dangerous to the world peace as well as to American domestic and international interests.

With the public anger that is mounting in America against war and considering the setbacks it suffered recently in Afghanistan, opting for war for Israel's sake will not be feasible for U.S.

This is exactly why Obama administration is keen to avoid a full-fledged war with Iran, though it speaks tough and keeps reassuring Israel of its support for the denuclearization of Iran.

Now with Israel agreeing in principle that Iranians are yet undecided on the war, fear of an immediate military strike on Iran by Israel is unfounded. Nevertheless, Israel is not going to fully trust Iran and would still push America for military action against Iran. It might be a matter of time before it reconsiders its views on Iranian nuclear situation.