The Pentagon has informed the US congress that Israel has requested to purchase 100 laser-guided smart bombs, which could potentially be used to target and destroy underground bunkers, Israel Radio reported.

The cost of the deal would reach $30 million.

Pentagon officials said that the deal would not effect the balance of power in the Middle East, although American military experts suggested that Israel could use the bombs to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

The laser-guided bombs, manufactured by the Lockheed Martin Corporation, can be carried by F-15 fighter jets.

Congress has a 30-day deadline to decide on whether or not to allow the deal to go forth.

Israel may be seeking to use the so-called ‘bunker busters’ if and when it decides to target Iranian nuclear facilities.

On Sunday, Iran said announced it would resume uranium enrichment regardless of the outcome of its negotiations with three European powers over its nuclear program, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said the Europeans appeared to be serious in seeking an agreement with Iran. But he added that any settlement had to respect Iran’s right, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, to enrich uranium.

The Europeans have been offering economic incentives in the hope that Iran will turn its temporary suspension of uranium enrichment activities into a permanent freeze.

Asefi said Iran would not continue its suspension of enrichment for long.

“It is not a matter of a year, but months,” he said of the suspension, which was imposed last year to boost confidence ahead of negotiations.

Source: Jerusalem Post
URL: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagena…/p>