Israel started the sabre rattling when their air force had a dress rehearsal for attacking Iran. Israel has broken and is breaking more International Laws than Iran. The Bully Boy of the Middle East is the Nuclear Power Israel. A possible solution is to disarm both Israel and Iran of their Nuclear

mike Ryan, Dorset, uk

What an enormous miscalculation by the French firm and the West, removing the one major inducement for Iran to forego nuclear development, access to Europe's gas markets, while leaving the door wide open to Russia, China, and India.

Robert Berke, Oakland, CA

I have to agree with talking to them. As much as I think there are a few apples short of the barrel running this place, the people are decent. Israel provided assisstance prior to Ayatollahs, shame America deposed the shah then...Nothing stopping us all getting along to be honest, its sad really.

Garry, London, UK

to "Keith S, Winnipeg". Quick to condemn USA and UK, and apologist for Iranian regime that executes minors, persecutes religious and political minorities, hosts Holocaust deniers, directs murders of pensioners in Argentina, sponsors anti-Jewish cartoons . You cannot be serious!

steve aulger, tel-aviv, israel

Turn up for the books, the French coming out in sympathy. Is there a bigger contract on the go?

kirk, Rotherham, UK

To Steven in St Ives:

Its the Israelis/Americans that will drop the first bomb and not the Iranians

Charlie, london, uk

"Iran/Iraq war : 8 yrs, chemical weapons, and 375,000 iranians dead. Do they never learn?"

It is well known that Iraq's Saddam started that war by invading Iran.

When Iran attacked Iraq it was in self-defense after being attacked by them.

The US and UK cannot make the same claim.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

The rest of the world will not forgive both Israel and America for the destruction of their economies, because of sky high oil prices, not that they care about the rest of us

donald, essex, uk

pre-emptive strike?huh.
Iran will attack no-one unless attacked first, Its surrounded by bigger, more powerful and dangerous enemies.
The leaders of iraq may be crazed religinuts but they are not a global power, or even a threat unless attacked first.

ayla, london,

The last time Iran initiated a war with another country was 1502.

Has Iran ever run a terrorist training camp like the CIA's School of the Americas? So has the US, UK, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The terrorists are the warmongers who lead the US, UK, Israel in threatening the world with their WMDs.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

Iran/Iraq war : 8 yrs, chemical weapons, and 375,000 iranians dead. Do they never learn?
Israel provided assistance before the Ayatollahs- who now seek Israel's destruction. 70M people, oil oceans, yet lower standard of living than Israel. Iranians, channel your efforts for life not death.

steve aulger, tel-aviv, israel

Interesting to see that Robert Gates acknowledges "... everyone recognises what the consequences of a conflict would be".

Yeah, just think of the mess that would exist in Iraq without American forward planning.

Douglas Miller, Fulham,

The US could impose 100% sanctions by banning any company doing business in Iran from selling in the US. Why does'nt it do this?

Barry Samways, London, UK

Bombing is never been a solution and it is not going to be one. Therefore all parties should act sagaciously to over come this situation. The world economy is directly linked with oil prices and Isolation of Iran (A major player in Oil Market) through sanctions will only aggravate the economic situation. I believe table talks can resolve the issues whereas cluster bombs can only take innocent lives.

Zahid Mehmood, Islamabad, Pakistan

Just speak to the Iranians, and trade with them: commerce is a great healer. Only one belligerent act will shoot oil to $250 a barrel, and then we are all stuffed - or is this the plan?

C Smith, Norwich, Norfolk

Remember, one Iranian missile explodes in Israel, it's bye-bye Tehran.

Stephen, St. Ives, England

Iran faked several missile launches in today's photos, and its bellicose posturing is meant only to hide its military -- and moral -- weakness. Iran is terrified of a Western attack....as it ought to be.

Charles, Cleveland,

WPO, the Iraq/Iran war began with Iraq invading Iran to further Saddam's Sunni rule over Shia. Iran then tried to free Iraq's Shia majority.

In invading Iraq, US/UK/Aus took on Iran's task of toppling Saddam.

Now the US wants topple the most democratically elected government in the Middle East?

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

We don't see Iragi WMD?
We did see Saddam Hussein Fall
We see Western OIl companies Now
So what is it? It is IRAQI OIL

Is it Iranian Nukes?
Is it Iranian axis of evil?
Is it Iranian threats
Or is it Iranian OIL?

OIL OIL OIL
100708

Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia

A bunch of Wahhabi Sunnis attack the WTC on 9-11, and some confusion, the USA allies itself with Sunnis to attack Iraq's and Iran's elected S'hia lead governments.

It is as if the Americans had allied with the Japanese after Pearl Harbour.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

Have our intelligence agencies not checked their maps (again)? Iran can't invade Israel there is no common border.

Why the scare tactics and xenophobia?

Because Bush wants to curry favour with the Wahhabi-Sunnis that lead Saudi Arabia. Members of the same sect that attacked the WTC on 9-11.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

"Israel is the strongest country in the region..." really Mr Barak, we didn't think so when the IDF couldn't beat a ragtag army of civilian militias in Lebanon a few years ago. I think there won't ever be a 6-day war again ever, eh?

Taiki, Singapore,

Iran can cause way more problems to our economies by witholding oil or gas than we can to theirs by threatening sanctions. Try diplomacy...it just might work.

Clem, Jersey City, USA

Iran’s terrorist leader needs to wakeup and understand he will stand alone when Israeli and US forces drop some Steal Rain on his door step. Iran needs to stop supporting terrorists and start acting like a respective member of the world community. Iran is in the process of brining their weapons into the 20 century, but is forgetting to bring their attitudes and responsibility with them. Statements such as calling for the destruction of Israel and the pursuit of nuclear weapons can not be allowed.

Mike, Berkley, USA

Iran is stronger then it was since fighting Saddam. Clearly the Israeli's know this & know their own limitations(the Israeli army failed to take a village held by the Hezbollah in Lebanon 2006) resorting to dropping cluster bombs on civilian areas. No nuclear weapons in the Middle-East, incl Israel.

yusuf ola, Batley, UK

Perspective helps, Iran fought Iraq for a long time and killed thousands of Iraqui's and Iranians, and failed to resolve the conflict. Face it, this is a third level nation, posturing, imagine for a moment that they obtain a nuclear thing, and use it in Tel Aviv, so where does the fallout go ?

wpo, warsaw, ny

bomb these sites before its too late for Goodness sake!

Peter Smith, Wrenchford, UK