According to Israeli reports, the brutal response of Iranian authorities to the protests after the disputed June elections has made the US more sceptical about the chances of negotiating an agreement that would halt Iran's nuclear program. The briefings in Jerusalem this week from US Defence Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Adviser James Jones indicated "that the Americans are for the first time showing more understanding for Israel's view of events", the Haaretz newspaper reported yesterday-by Abraham Rabinovich

Riots erupted in Tehran again on Thursday when protesters gathered at the grave of Neda Soltan, the young woman shot dead during demonstrations 40 days ago. Riot police used teargas and batons to disperse the thousands who arrived at the cemetery, including opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims his loss to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the elections was a transparent fraud perpetrated by the government.

Mr Gates and General Jones, on separate visits, met during the week with the senior Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak, in a series of meetings devoted largely to Iran.

Both visitors said Washington had given Tehran until the UN General Assembly meeting in the last week of September to respond to Mr Obama's offer of talks. On the initial assumption that Tehran would express willingness to talk, Washington had planned to hold a policy review with its allies towards the end of the year before deciding whether to proceed with sanctions.

But given Tehran's failure to respond, and the Iranian regime's behaviour since the elections, the reassessment might begin sooner, the American officials reportedly said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed doubt last week that the Iranian government had the "capacity" at present to respond to the American offer of talks.

The nature of American-sponsored sanctions was spelled out publicly for the first time yesterday by Israeli officials who had taken part in the meetings.

The sanctions would focus at first on curbing Iran's ability to import petrol. Although the country has one of the largest oil deposits in the world, it has limited refining capacity. General Jones said 67 US senators had so far signed on to such sanctions.

The Americans are also proposing financial sanctions, including the banning of insurance on trade deals with Iran which would make it difficult for Iran to conduct trade. Sanctions may also be imposed on any company in the world that trades with Iran.

If these steps do not work, Washington may go to the next stage, which includes banning Iranian ships from Western ports and Iranian planes from landing at Western airports.

Washington is forging its list of sanctions with Germany, France and Britain. Russia and China have rejected such steps.

General Jones reportedly told the Israelis that Mr Obama would soon visit China and try to persuade its leaders to join in.

Washington has been cautioning Israel against any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, at least while the US is pursuing the diplomatic option. A statement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week conveyed that the US would in any case provide Israel and the Arab states with a protective nuclear umbrella against Iran. The statement was intended to comfort Israel but it had the opposite effect, sounding to Israeli ears as if Washington was reconciled to the prospect of a nuclear Iran.

Israel has not taken the possibility of an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities off the table although it has accepted that the US's diplomatic efforts must be allowed to run their course.

If diplomatic efforts fail and sanctions fail too, the question is whether the US will permit Israel to strike or whether Israel would strike even without permission.

John Bolton, the hardline former US ambassador to the UN, said Israel would have to make up its mind on the issue in the coming months. "Absent Israeli action, prepare for a nuclear Iran," he said. Mr Bolton said he would not be surprised if Israel attacked before the end of the year.

Article was originally printed in 'The Australian' cick view for more information 

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