Mossad could 'conduct operations' against Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to authorise the Mossad spy agency to lead the country’s efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, it was reported today.

Iranian officials insist they are not trying to build atomic weapons and that their nuclear programmes are only to generate electricity.

Israeli and US officials, however, have expressed concerns, and Mohammed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said traces of weapons-grade uranium were found at a nuclear facility at Natanz in central Iran.

The Haaretz newspaper reported that the Mossad will gather intelligence on Iran’s alleged efforts to build nuclear weapons.

In the future, Mossad agents could also conduct operations, the newspaper said, without elaborating.

Until now, Israel’s National Security Council had been co-ordinating the government’s efforts, largely through diplomatic channels, to block Iran from building atomic weapons. Its chairman, Ephraim Halevy resigned in June.

“Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat, not only to Israel but to Europe and the whole free world,” Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said on Sunday.

“Iran is fast approaching the point of no return in its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons capabilities.”