The former head of Israels Shin Bet security agency has accused the countrys political leaders of exaggerating the effectiveness of a possible military strike against Iran,in a striking indication of Israels turmoil over how to deal with the Iranian nuclear program. Yuval Diskin said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have their judgment clouded by messianic feelings and should not be trusted to lead policy on Iran. Diskin,who headed Shin Bet until last year,said a strike might actually accelerate the Iranian program. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Israel,like the West,believes that Tehran is developing weapons technology,but there is intense debate over whether international economic sanctions accompanying the current round of negotiations might prevent Iran from developing a bomb,or whether a military strike should be launched. Diskins comments deepened the sense that a rift is growing between the Netanyahu government and the security establishment. I dont have faith in the current leadership of Israel to lead us to an event of this magnitude,of war with Iran,Diskin said at a public meeting Friday. I do not believe in a leadership that makes decisions based on Messianic feelings, he continued. I have seen them up close. They are not messiahs,these two,and they are not the people that I personally trust to lead Israel into an event. Diskin said it was possible that one of the results of an Israel attack on Iran could be a dramatic acceleration of the Iran program . They will have legitimacy to do it more quickly and in a shorter timeframe. Spokesmen for Netanyahu and Barak both refused comment on the issue. Iran-IAEA talks on May 13-14 in Vienna Tehran: A new round of talks between Tehran and the UNs nuclear agency will be held in Vienna on May 13-14,Irans state TV reported on Saturday in a signal of possible progress after separate negotiations resumed with world powers over the countrys controversial nuclear programme. The technical talks in Vienna with the International Atomic Energy Agency come in addition to negotiations with the six world powers US,Britain,France,Russia,China and Germany set for May 23 in Baghdad. Ali Asghar Soltanieh,Irans chief delegate to the IAEA,said the talks will focus on resolving questions about Tehrans alleged attempt to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says inspectors will be allowed to visit the Parchin military site as a goodwill gesture,but it would require agreement between the two sides on guidelines for the inspection.
