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Source: http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/content/iran-still-our-most-substantial-defense-challenge
"Iran Is Still Our Most Substantial Defense Challenge"
(Israel Defense) Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad interviewed by Amir Rapaport - "The first challenge [for Israel] is monitoring the Iranian threat. The potential for the realization of a nuclear threat still exists in Iran, while at the same time the agreement provides the Iranians with more resources for building up threatening military strength in Lebanon. If it were up to them, they would have built a layout opposite Israel that is similar to the layout of Hizbullah, on the Golan Heights as well." "Iran's military industry manufactures an extensive range of missiles, and today they are a nuclear threshold country which, in their view, has been granted legitimacy. They want to implement the vision of a Persian-Shi'ite empire, while threatening the Arab countries, particularly Sunni Saudi Arabia. As far as they are concerned, the nuclear agreement is tactical, and the strategic path is what really matters: to consolidate the empire and disseminate its principles." "Along the northern border, the entity facing us is stronger than the State of Lebanon, which I call 'Hizbullastan'. This entity has more than 100,000 rockets and continues to build up its potential even at sea, including the Russian-made shore-to-sea missile 'Yakhont' which is capable of engaging various marine and ground targets including our offshore gas drilling rigs." "Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah himself is connected by his umbilical cord to the Iranians, so 'Hizbullastan' is actually an affiliate of Tehran. The nuclear agreement between Iran and the superpowers does not include any reference to the terrorism and missile threats, so these threats will intensify....The primary threat facing us: Iran in combination with 'Hizbullastan'." "Iran's record proves that it always strives to violate agreements. International sanctions have not changed their ideology. It is a very violent regime that deals with terrorism. This is what we face and prepare for." Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilad is Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs at the Israel Ministry of Defense.