A British newspaper, The Daily Express, reported on Sunday that Saudi Arabia is "ready to allow Israel to bomb Iran's new nuclear site." The report cites a meeting in London between MI6 intelligence chief Sir John Scarlett, Mossad chief Meir Dagan and Saudi officials. British intelligence officers helped to uncover the plant three years ago, in the side of a mountain near the ancient city of Qom. See: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/130251/Saudis-will-let-Israel-bomb-Iran-nuclear-site.
In compliance with a International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) requirement, Iran revealed the existence of the new plant this month and has agreed to allow U.N. inspectors access to it. While the British report states that "diplomatic sources said it could hold 3,000 centrifuges, capable of making enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb each year," the IAEA reports that nuclear material has not yet been added. The IAEA says that the data they have been given suggests that as with the existing Nanatz facility, the new site is only designed to enrich uranium to 5%, useful for energy production at the nation’s Bushehr power plant but not for military purposes. See: http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/25/as-required-iran-informs-iaea-about-new-enrichment-site/.
The most direct route for the Israeli air force to attack Iran would be over Iraq, but Israeli F-15I and F-16I jets would still be well-within range of Iran after flying over Saudi air space. Such a move may also circumvent some political pressure from the U.S.
Last week in an interview with The Daily Beast, national security adviser for former President Jimmy Carter, Zbigniew Brzezinski, stated that the Obama administration should make it clear to Israel that they would not be allowed to use U.S.-controlled air space over Iraq for such an attack. See: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-09-18/how-obama-flubbed-his-missile-message/full/. Although Brzeninski is not working for the Obama administration in any capacity, his early endorsement reportedly increased then-candidate Obama's foreign policy credentials.
The city of Qom, near where the plant is reportedly located, is one of the holiest cities in Shi’ite Islam. An attack by Israel near the city would almost certainly provoke outrage. It is uncertain how Russia, with many vital interests in Iran, would react to such an attack. Any flare up of tensions in the middle east would likely send oil prices skyrocketing.
For more info:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/130251/Saudis-will-let-Israel-bomb-Iran-nuclear-site
http://news.antiwar.com/2009/09/27/mi6-saudis-will-let-israel-bomb-iran-nuclear-site/
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/iran.htm
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