Israel: 'All Options' Open After Iran Talks Fail
Wednesday, 20 Jun 2012 07:26 PM
Israel responded on Wednesday to a lack of progress in talks aimed at
curbing Iran's nuclear program by demanding that the West impose stiffer
economic sanctions on Tehran and hinting anew that a military option was
still on the table.
Six world powers and Iran failed to secure a breakthrough at talks in
Moscow this week, the third round under the latest diplomatic initiative, and
set no date for more political negotiations.
"It is time for the United States and Western powers to impose more
severe sanctions in the oil embargo and financial sectors in order to
stop Iran's nuclear development programme," Vice Prime Minister Shaul
Mofaz of the centrist Kadima party said in a written statement after talks in
Washington with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Mofaz, a former defense minister and military chief, said that in
addition to economic steps there was a need "to continue to prepare all
other options", an oblique suggestion that a military attack to prevent
Iran developing a nuclear weapon remained a possible course of
action.
While Western powers suspect Iran of trying to develop the capacity to
build a nuclear bomb, Iran says its nuclear program is destined for energy
production alone.
Before reports of the Moscow talks breaking up, Mofaz was quoted as
telling reporters in Washington that any use of military power "should be
the last option, and I believe that this option should be led by the U.S. and
the Western countries."
Mofaz heads the largest party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
right-leaning ruling coalition, since the two leaders forged a partnership last
month to avoid threats by their opponents to seek an early election.
Western concern that Israel, which regards Iran's atomic project as an
existential threat given its calls for the demise of the Jewish state, might
resort to force has fuelled efforts to continue discussions with Tehran.
Technical talks with Iran have been scheduled for July 3 in Istanbul,
but no further political talks have been agreed, and some experts have said the
risk of war will increase unless diplomacy is renewed.
Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle East country with
nuclear weapons.
On his four-day visit to the U.S. capital, Mofaz is also seeking U.S.
help in arranging a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to try to
renew peace talks deadlocked since 2010 over Jewish settlement building in
occupied territory.
© 2012 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.
