US Arms Deal with Israel, Gulf States Is to Send Clear Signal to Iran: Hagel

Local Editor

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters on Sunday that “a major US arms deal with Israel sends a very clear signal to Tehran that military action remains an option to stop it from going nuclear.” Asked by reporters if a multi-billion dollar arms package with “Israel” was designed to convey a message that a military strike remains an option, he said: "I don't think there's any question that's another very clear signal to Iran." Hagel was speaking just before his plane touched down in Tel Aviv at the start of a six-day tour of the region focused on plans to sell $10 billion worth of advanced missiles and aircraft to the Zionist entity, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in a bid to counter the “Iranian threat”. The deal will see Israel obtaining anti-radiation missiles designed to take out enemy air defenses, radar for fighter jets, aerial refueling tankers and Osprey V-22 tilt-rotor transport aircraft. It will also see the sale of US F-16 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates and sophisticated missiles to Saudi Arabia. Details were unveiled on the eve of Hagel's departure on a trip which will focus heavily on Iran's nuclear program and the civil war raging in Syria. He will stay two-days in Israel, and will tour the so-called “Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial” in the occupied part of al-Quds, and meet Zionist Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In parallel, the US official plans to discuss with his counterparts in the region the final details of the arms deal, and US officials have said it would be months or more for the new weapons and aircraft to be delivered.

Source: AFP 21-04-2013 - 12:51 Last updated 21-04-2013 - 12:51