US considering military attack on Iran: Russia Gen

Moscow, Apr 9: A Russian General said today the release of the 15 British sailors captured by Iran may have robbed the US of a pretext to attack Tehran, but a military attack is still on the anvil.

''Preparations to strike Iran's strategic facilities continue. Three major groups of US forces are still in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Altogether, they have up to 450 cruise missiles on alert,'' President of the Academy for Geopolitical Problems Col Gen Leonid Ivashov told Interfax news agency today.

'' Military operations against Tehran will begin with the launch of at least two unexpected strikes using Tomahawk cruise missiles and air power in order to disable Iran's air defence capabilities,'' he said.

''According to our data, up to 150 aircraft are to be involved in each strike on Iran. Land-based air defence systems will be disabled in the first place, then mobile short-range systems, which Tehran has (including some 30 new systems),'' he added.

Mr Ivashov said primary targets will include command centres, air defence installations, the navy, airfields, ports and docking facilities.

''Nuclear facilities may be secondary targets. According to expert assessments, at least 20 such facilities need to be destroyed in order to stop Iran's nuclear programme,'' he said.

Mr Ivashov did not rule out that nuclear weapons may be used against Iran.

''Combat nuclear weapons may be used for bombing. This will result in radioactive contamination of Iranian territory, which could possibly spread to neighbouring countries,'' he said.

''If Iran strikes back at Israel with missiles, Tel-Aviv is likely to use nuclear weapons on Iran,'' Mr Ivashov said, stressing that such a ''development of the situation would undermine stability not only in the West Asia, but also in the entire world.''

UNI

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