Press TV reports:

US President George W. Bush has reportedly authorized a covert operation to set the stage for a military offensive against Iran.

According to Counterpunch magazine, President Bush signed a secret finding in March authorizing a covert offensive against Iran, which those familiar with its contents believe to be ‘unprecedented in its scope’.

Actions permitted under the secret directive include ‘the assassination of targeted officials’ along with operations across an extensive geographic area from Lebanon to Afghanistan.

The ruling is believed to be an initiative in line with President Bush’s sweeping chief executive powers, which will enable him to arm and fund terrorist groups such as the Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) and the Jundullah (army of god) militants stationed across the Afghan border in Baluchistan.

Furthermore, efforts to destabilize the Syrian government and operations against the Hezbollah Movement in Lebanon will be stepped up, the report says.

An initial outlay of $300 million has reportedly been approved to finance the implementation of the clandestine operation.

Observers believe the former Centcom Commander Admiral William Fallon, who fiercely opposed a Bush military strike on Iran, was the main obstacle in the way of Washington’s policies against the Islamic Republic.

Following Fallon’s resignation in March and with Bush’s favorite general David Petraeus set to assume his position, speculation is high that Middle Eastern nations should prepare for yet another war in the region.

Britain’s Secret Service is forging closer links with its Israeli counterpart, Mossad, on Iran’s nuclear program, The Sunday Times says.

According to the British daily, the head of MI6, Sir John Scarlett, is to visit Israel later this month to build long-standing cooperation between his agency and Mossad, both of which are known to be operating extensive spy networks in the Middle East.

Iran’s nuclear program is expected to be high on the agenda of the two spy agencies in an intelligence-sharing process described by Israeli officials as a ‘strategic dialogue’.

Scarlett will reportedly be briefed by Meir Dagan, the head of Mossad, on Israel’s latest information about the Iranian nuclear program.

The new information is said to be on a par with intelligence that led Israel to discover and then destroy a partly constructed nuclear reactor in Syria last September; an unnamed source was quoted as saying.

Britain has long been involved in espionage operations against Iran and has provided second parties with intelligence on the country.

Iran has categorically rejected all Western allegations that it is pursuing a nuclear bomb, insisting its nuclear program is directed at supplying fuel for the country’s power plants to meet the rising domestic demand for electricity.

sources:
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=54316&sectionid=351020101
http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=54259&sectionid=351020104