MOSCOW, April 18 (UPI) -- A senior Russian international security expert stated that the U.S. may attack Iran in 2007 if it can garner sufficient international support.
Moscow International Security Center head Dr. Aleksei Arbatov said, "If (the U.S.) undertakes a military operation, it will conduct it next year after thorough political, military and propaganda preparations."
RIA Novosti reported on April 17 that Arbatov added that unilateral American foreign policy initiatives, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq, had undermined Washington's stance on the issue of Iran's nuclear programs.
"The Americans say Europe and Russia -- with its proposal to enrich uranium for Iran -- had an opportunity to reach and agreement with Iran," he said. "But these attempts have ended in failure, and therefore America will take another path. The U.S. understands that Iran has strong regional positions while its troops are deployed in Iraq."
Arbatov commented that Shiite Iran might fall into conflict with neighboring Sunni Muslim countries after U.S. troops evacuate Iraq, observing, "When Iran faces this chaos, the U.S. will be able to deliver air strikes against the country."
