TEL AVIV, Israel, March 22 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak admitted Israel and the United States disagree on a realistic timetable to stop Iran from going nuclear.
In interviews on Israel Radio and Army Radio Thursday, Barak said the United States has more time to consider a strike on Iranian nuclear sites because of its military superiority and its considerations as a world power while Israel feels threatened directly. He said intelligence agencies of both countries are working together on the issue.
"Israel cannot afford to wait but negotiations and sanctions can buy a few more months," Barak told Army Radio. Barak warned 2012 would be a decisive year.
Barak said he believes Iran is working to make its nuclear sites immune to attack before it makes a decision on the assembly of bombs.
"Iran fears actions against it," he said, noting in recent years Tehran has been working to reinforce and scatter its nuclear sites to make it harder to launch a military strike against it.
Barak conducted telephone interviews from Germany where he inked a deal Wednesday providing Israel with a sixth Dolphin class submarine.
