Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief says 'KSA will use all options against Iran'

Addressing a conference on national and regional security in Manama, Bahrain,Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief says the Iranian escalation will lead to "misadventure", stressing the readiness of the Arab Gulf States to use all options available to defend their interests.

Prince Turki al-Faisal said that "everyone heard about the provocative maneuvers carried out in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, as well as statements by the leaders of Iran on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of neighboring countries."

Quoted by the local media Wednesday the senior prince stated that "the increasing escalation and tension may lead to a misadventure or a military confrontation." Prince Turki stressed that the Gulf states are not part of the conflict between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear program, however he noted that the GCC countries are fully committed to "legitimacy and international laws."

According to Iran's Faras news agency,on Tuesday,Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi urged Riyadh to reconsider plans to compensate for any shortfall in the market caused by West-backed sanctions against Iranian oil exports.

Meanwhile, Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday that any Israeli decision on attacking Iran in order to stop its nuclear program is still "very far." Barak told army radio "We did not make a decision to proceed with these things. We have no date for making such a decision. The whole thing too far." In response to a question to clarify what he meant by "too far", Barak said he did not want get into "expectations."

Barak was speaking on Israel's Army Radio ahead of a planned visit this week by U.S. armed forces chief General Martin Dempsey that has triggered speculation Washington would press Israel to delay any action against Tehran's nuclear program.

Less than a week after Israeli prime minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin Netanyahu said that the sanctions imposed by the West on Iran are insufficient to curb its nuclear program, a senior Obama Administration rejected the Israeli government's assessment that the sanctions on Iran are not working as sanctions on Iran must be gradual.

Sources:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/151878

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-rejects-israeli-assessment-that-iran-sanctions-are-ineffective-1.408029