Israel evasive on Iran plans

TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said there are no plans to strike against Iran's nuclear facilities but all options remain open.

Despite growing concern over Iran's nuclear development, Barak told Israeli Army Radio he and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu have not decided whether Israel would conduct a military strike against Iran, Haaretz reported Monday.

"It does not take a genius to understand that in Israel in 2011 two people cannot decide to do something on their own," Barak said. "That may have been appropriate in Israel in 2006. In the Defense Ministry, there are thousands of pages of discussion on this subject, in the presence of dozens of ministers, military personnel and experts."

Barak said Iran poses a threat to stability in the Middle East.

"I think that one has to use diplomatic pressure and sanctions on Iran," he said.