<http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050216/2005-02-16T183241Z_01_L16277544_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAN-DC.html>
My Way News Iran Will Know How to Build Bomb in 6 Months - Israel Email this Story Feb 16, 1:32 PM (ET) sponsored links Voice Your Opinion - Take today's My Way Poll, featuring a new topic daily. http://poll.myway.com Play Free Online Games - Collapse, Bounce Out, Jigsaw, Crossword, Mah Jong and tons more. http://games.myway.com By Andrew Cawthorne and Amir Paivar LONDON/TEHRAN (Reuters) - Israel said on Wednesday Tehran was just six months away from being able to build an atomic bomb, as Iranian state television rattled markets by reporting an explosion near Iran's only nuclear power plant. A senior Iranian military officer later said the explosion in south Iran, initially reported as caused by a missile, was blasting work during the construction of a dam. But the initial report by Al-Alam satellite channel jolted financial markets, worried about any possible U.S. or Israeli strike to end Iran's nuclear ambitions. Washington believes Iran is seeking an atomic bomb, an accusation denied by Tehran which says its nuclear program is for generating electricity only. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, whose country regards Iran as one of its most dangerous enemies, said Tehran was "trying very hard to develop the nuclear bomb." "The question is not if the Iranians will have a nuclear bomb in 2009, 10 or 11, the main question is when are they going to have the knowledge to do it," he told reporters during a visit to London. "We believe in six months from today they will end all the tests and experiments they are doing to have that knowledge." While Europe has pursued a policy of engagement with Iran, the United States and Israel have taken a more aggressive stance. Washington has said it favors diplomacy but does not rule out any option, and Israel has hinted at possible military action. An Israeli air strike on the Iraqi reactor Osiraq in 1981 dealt a severe blow to Saddam Hussein's nuclear program. The Al-Alam satellite channel, which broadcasts in Arabic, reported a powerful explosion near the town of Dailam, about 100 miles from Iran's only nuclear power plant. It quoted witnesses as saying the explosion was caused by an aircraft firing a missile in a deserted area near Dailam, but also cited a local source saying a fuel tank may have fallen from an Iranian plane. The report caused the U.S. stock market to drop briefly and sent oil prices higher. But Ali Reza Afshar, deputy to the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, later blamed blasting work on a dam. "What happened was only a natural part of building work. These were heavy blasts carried out for the construction of the dam," he said on state television. Al-Alam later dropped any reference to a missile strike from its news bulletins. SPYING ACCUSATIONS Iran's Russian-built 1,000-megawatt nuclear reactor, its only nuclear power plant, is due to start operating in Bushehr province in late 2005 and will reach full capacity in 2006. Tehran on Wednesday accused the United States of using satellites "and other tools" to spy on its nuclear sites and threatening to shoot down any aerial surveillance craft. Reacting to the blast report, a Defense Department spokesman stressed to Reuters that "it is U.S. policy to deal with Iran in a diplomatic manner." France, Britain and Germany have been trying to persuade Iran to scrap potentially weapons-related activities in return for economic incentives, but Iran says its suspension of uranium enrichment activities last November is only temporary. Iran has warned it would both retaliate and accelerate its drive to master nuclear technology if the United States or Israel attacked its atomic facilities. Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref also said on Wednesday that Tehran was ready to work with Syria, itself locked in a row with the United States, to face threats. "We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Aref said in Tehran after meeting Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari. Otari told reporters: "This meeting, which takes place at this sensitive time, is important, especially because Syria and Iran face several challenges and it is necessary to build a common front." The U.S. accuses Syria of letting Palestinian militants and Iraqi insurgents operate on its soil. -- ----------------- R. A. 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