Israel: Iran's reactor a threat to region

JERUSALEM, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Israel's deputy foreign minister says Iran's nuclear reactor represents a tremendous danger to the stability of the entire Middle East.

Danny Ayalon says regional war initiated by Iran is a distinct possibility, The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.

"A fear exists that Iran -- as it becomes more pressured by sanctions -- will goad those under its patronage in Hezbollah and Hamas to initiate military action against Israel," Ayalon said in a Farsi language broadcast on Israeli Radio.

He said there's a possibility Iran could make a military move against the Arab Gulf states, harming the flow of oil to the entire world.

Ayalon urged Iranians to protest their government's "dictatorial regime" and said Israel bears no animosity towards the Iranian people.

"The more the citizens of Iran increase their protest activities, the higher the international support will be," Ayalon said.

Israeli Radio broadcast the remarks Monday.