Post date: Feb 22, 2012 11:39:57 PM
Israel believes that within 2-3 years Iran will have intercontinental missiles able to hit the United States' East Coast..
JERUSALEM (FEBRUARY 22, 2012) (CNBC)
Israeli finance minister Yuval Steinitz asserted on Wednesday (February 22) that within two to three years Iran will have intercontinental missiles capable of hitting the east coast of the United States.
"We estimate that in two to three years they (referring to Iran) will have their first intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the east coast of America. Though, their aim is clearly not only to be able to threaten Israel and the Middle East, but to put a direct ballistic threat to Europe and to the United States of America," Steinitz said in an interview with CNBC.
Analysts estimate the longest range of an Iranian missile to be about 2,400 km (1,500 miles), capable of reaching Israel as well as western Europe.
Steinitz assessment of Iran's missile capability was in line with an unclassified U.S. Defense Department report in 2010 that estimated Iran may be able to build a long.-range missile by 2015.
Steinitz's remarks coincided with stepped up U.S. efforts to persuade Israeli leaders that there is still time for diplomacy to dissuade Tehran from building a nuclear weapon and growing concerns Israel might opt to strike Iran pre-emptively.
Three weeks ago, Israeli Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said Iran had been working on developing a missile capable of striking the United States at a military base rocked by an explosion that killed 17 Iranian troops in November.