Ahmadinejad warns Israel over Gaza attacks

Iran intends to build two additional uranium-enrichment plants at sites to be chosen by President Mahoumd Ahmadinejad, said Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, on Saturday, accroding to Channel 10 news.

Earlier Saturday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country would easily cope with any new sanctions on petroleum imports, adding that such measures would only serve to strengthen his people's resolve.

"You should know that the more hostile you are, the stronger an incentive our people will have, it will double," Ahmadinejad said, adding, "They said 'we want sanctions on petroleum.' Why don't you do it? The sooner the better."

Speaking at a factory inauguration, Ahmadinejad also referred to U.S. President Barack Obama who urged Iran to join diplomatic negotiations over its nuclear program and said that the West has not extended a hand to Iran.

"They say that 'we have extended our hands to the people of Iran but the government of Iran and the people of Iran pushed it back.' What hand did you extend toward us?" Ahmadinejad said.

"What changed? Your sanctions were lifted? The adverse propaganda was stopped? The pressure was alleviated? Did you change your attitude in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine?"

White House spokesman Bill Burton said the U.S. administration would have no comment on the Iranian president's remarks.

Ahmadinejad warns Israel over Gaza attacks

Ahmadinejad also warned Israel Saturday that attacks on Gaza would cost "too much," referring to Israeli air strikes on the Gaza strip on Friday.

"One more time I warn the leaders of arrogant powers and the supporters of Zionist regime to not make a new mistake in the Middle East - attacking Gaza will cost you too much, "Ahmadinejad said at the inauguration of a factory in southern Iran.

Israel is urging tough international action to stop Iran's nuclear program alongside the United States and the United Nations.

Report: Iran buys uranium-enrichment hardware

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that an Iranian procurement firm linked to Iran's nuclear program has obtained hardware for uranium enrichment manufactured by a French company that, until recently, was owned by American industrial conglomerate Tyco International.

The Journal reported that over the last few weeks the private Iranian firm purchased critical valves and vacuum gauges from an intermediary Chinese company based near Shanghai.

Both the French and the United States firms denied knowledge of the business transaction, The Wall Street Journal reported, adding that Western authorities are currently investigating how the gauges and valves reached Iran despite sanctions intended to prevent such equipment from entering Iran.

According to a Vienna-based diplomat, the International Atomic Energy Agency has been aware of the transaction since January and is probing the matter, the journal reported.

"Some deliveries got through [to Iran], others didn't," the Wall Street Journal quoted an investigator familiar with the IAEA probe, who added that it is not uncommon that manufacturers are unaware of the destination of the products manufactured in their companies.

Obama told CBS on Friday that evidence shows Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons, adding that he felt his administration should continue the pressure on Tehran to cooperate with the international community over its contentious nuclear program.

Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal said on Saturday that all options against Israel remain open, including war, Channel 10 news reported.

"We will do everything to obtain the rights stolen from us, including confrontation with the enemy," he told journalists.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1160715.html