JERUSALEM: Only the threat of U.S military action will persuade Iran to drop plans to build an atomic bomb, says Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Record ID: 313712

  • Title: JERUSALEM: Only the threat of U.S military action will persuade Iran to drop plans to build an atomic bomb, says Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Date: 12th January 2011
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JANUARY 11, 2011) (REUTERS) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU APPROACHING PODIUM AHEAD OF HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING: "You have to ratchet up the pressure and, as I said, I don't think that this pressure will be sufficient to change course, to have this regime change course, without a credible military option that is put before them by the international community led by the United States." NETANYAHU AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING: "I think that intelligence estimates are exactly that, they are estimates. They range from best case to worst case possibilities. And there's quite a range there. So I think there is room for some differing assessments." MORE OF JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION, NETANYAHU LISTENING ON PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING: "There is no question that all these things have caused hardship but they have not in any way altered Iran's determination to pursue its nuclear programme. They are determined to move ahead despite every difficulty, every obstacle, every setback, to create nuclear weapons." MORE OF NETANYAHU AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING: "All I can tell you is I think they will make a terrible mistake to test our will to defend our people. I think they'll make a terrible, terrible mistake." NETANYAHU LEAVING PODIUM, SHAKING OFFICIALS' HANDS
  • Embargoed: 27th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem, Jerusalem
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA64GYW1A81UDJOFZZ9KZ1ARSBA
  • Story Text: Only the convincing threat of military action by the United States will persuade Iran to drop plans to build an atomic bomb, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday (January 11).
    Netanyahu appeared to downplay recent Israeli intelligent assessment that Tehran's nuclear programme faced delays and urged foreign powers to pile pressure on the Iranian authorities.
    Speaking to foreign journalists, he said that although the latest round of international sanctions were hurting Iran, they would not be enough to force a u-turn on nuclear weapons.
    "You have to ratchet up the pressure and ... I don't think that this pressure will be sufficient to have this regime change course without a credible military option that is put before them by the international community led by the United States," he said.
    The West believes that Iran aims to use its uranium enrichment program to build atomic weapons. Tehran denies this.
    Both Israel and the United States have said all options remain on the table, but many analysts believe the threat of military intervention has receded amid signs that Iran's contested nuclear programme is suffering from sabotage, sanctions and technical glitches.
    Israel's outgoing spy chief told reporters last week that he did not believe Iran would be able to build a nuclear bomb before 2015 and counselled against any pre-emptive military strikes.
    A political source said Netanyahu was very unhappy with the departing Mossad director Meir Dagan for airing his views in public and the prime minister shrugged off his comments on Tuesday.
    "I think that intelligence estimates are exactly that, they are estimates. They range from best case to worst case possibilities ... so I think there is room for some differing assessments," he said.
    He told reporters the world had finally realised the danger posed by a nuclear-armed Iran and praised the latest round of United Nations-led sanctions for taking its toll on Tehran.
    "There is no question that all these things have caused hardship but they have not in any way altered Iran's determination to pursue its nuclear programme. They are determined to move ahead despite every difficulty, every obstacle, every setback, to create nuclear weapons."
    Netanyahu also warned of the influence Iran exerted on the whole Middle East, suggesting it was a potential impediment to any peace deal between Israel and its northern neighbour, Syria.
    He also warned Iranian-backed militant groups in Gaza of severe consequences if rocket fire from the coastal enclave continued, although he did not specify what Israel might do.
    "They will make a terrible mistake to test our will to defend our people. They will make a terrible, terrible mistake," Netanyahu said.
    The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers have told other militant factions in the coastal enclave that they will work to ensure a cease fire is held, a call reflecting concern that Israel might mount an offensive in the territory.
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