Target Iran - Air Strikes - 2007 Developments
27 August 2007
On 27 August 2007 the IAEA released the text of the 21 August 2007 understanding between Iran and the IAEA on "modalities of resolution of the outstanding issues." The timetable for answering the IAEA's questions would prolong the diplomatic process until late 2007 or early 2008.
28 August 2007
On 28 August 2007 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran supported the Iraqi government. He said the situation there, however, is becoming increasingly precarious. He warned of a growing and imminent power vacuum in Iraq, which he said Iran was ready to help fill. He stressed that the Iranian nation is not concerned about the propaganda of the war-mongering section of the US administration that the US is getting ready to launch military attack on Iran. Ahmadinejad said that from Tehran's point of view Iran's nuclear case is closed. "I announce officially that from our point of view Iran's nuclear case has been closed," said President Ahmadinejad in a press conference.
On 28 August 2007 President Bush addressed the 89th Annual National Convention of the American Legion. He said that "Iran has long been a source of trouble in the region. It is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Iran backs Hezbollah who are trying to undermine the democratic government of Lebanon. Iran funds terrorist groups like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which murder the innocent, and target Israel, and destabilize the Palestinian territories. Iran is sending arms to the Taliban in Afghanistan, which could be used to attack American and NATO troops. Iran has arrested visiting American scholars who have committed no crimes and pose no threat to their regime. And Iran's active pursuit of technology that could lead to nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust. Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere. And that is why the United States is rallying friends and allies around the world to isolate the regime, to impose economic sanctions. We will confront this danger before it is too late. ... Shia extremists, backed by Iran, are training Iraqis to carry out attacks on our forces and the Iraqi people.... I will take actions necessary to protect our troops. I have authorized our military commanders in Iraq to confront Tehran's murderous activities."
10 September 2007
On 10 September 2007 Iran's top nuclear negotiator said the country will not stop its nuclear enrichment program even if new UN sanctions are introduced. The comments from Ali Larijani came ahead of an International Atomic Nuclear Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, where a confidential report on Iran's nuclear program was delivered by the IAEA chief, Mohamed ElBaradei. Larijani said, "The issue of Tehran halting its uranium enrichment is an old one, which is absolutely unacceptable for us," adding that even if new UN sanctions were introduced Iran would continue its nuclear program.
10 September 2007
Ramadan for the year 1428/ 2007 begins on 12 September 2007 for all of the United States. President Bill Clinton halted strikes against targets in Iraq in December 1998, saying "For us to initiate military action during Ramadan would be profoundly offensive to the Muslim world and therefore would damage our relations with Arab countries ..." The proposition that Ramadan is a month of truce is otherwise poorly attested. There were a number significant battles during the month of Ramadan in which Allah granted victory to Islam and Muslims.
16 September 2007
On 16 September 2007 Defense Secretary Robert Gates ruled out sending US forces into Iran to disarm the backers of the insurgents in Iraq. "First of all, there's a question of just how much intelligence we have in terms of specific locations and so on," he said on Fox News Sunday. "But beyond that, I think that the general view is we can manage this problem through better operations inside Iraq and on the border with Iran -- that we can take care of the Iranian threat ... inside the borders of Iraq. ...Don't need to go across the border into Iran."
On 16 September 2007 Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Fox News that the US would continue to pursue diplomatic and economic efforts to persudade Iran to halt its nuclear efforts. "I will tell you that I think the administration believes at this point that continuing to try and deal with the Iranian threat, the Iranian challenge through diplomatic and economic means is by far the preferable approach... We always say all options are on the table. But clearly, the diplomatic and economic approach is the one we're pursuing." Asked if President George W. Bush would consult Congress before striking Iran, Gates said he would not be drawn on "hypotheticals about what he may or may not do."
11 October 2007
The last day of Ramadan for the year 1428/ 2007 is 11 October 2007. President Bill Clinton halted strikes against targets in Iraq in December 1998, saying "For us to initiate military action during Ramadan would be profoundly offensive to the Muslim world and therefore would damage our relations with Arab countries ..." The proposition that Ramadan is a month of truce is otherwise poorly attested. There were a number significant battles during the month of Ramadan in which Allah granted victory to Islam and Muslims.
