Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the international community to issue a military threat against Iran on Wednesday when another round of talks between the P5+1 powers and Iran were concluded in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Netanyahu made the statements during a meeting in Jerusalem with the visiting Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

"We have the problem of Iran that is continuing to defy the international community and does not seem to seek an end to its military nuclear program," Netanyahu told Peiris.

"I think no other means will make Iran obey the wishes of the international community," he added.

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili expressed optimism Wednesday about the outcome of the two-day nuclear talks, saying that the world powers' attitude toward Iran's nuclear issue was "more realistic."

Also on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry referred to the talks as "useful," adding that if Iran engages seriously in trust-building steps between the nations, it could lead to a longer-term agreement, and the United States are ready to hold bilateral talks with Iran.

In the past year, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak mentioned a possible military strike against Iran and Netanyahu warned the UN that Iran is close to crossing a non-return line of uranium enrichments toward the construction of a nuclear bomb.

Israeli treasury officials said recently that the preparations toward a possible armed conflict with Iran in 2012 cost the country nearly three billion U.S. dollars. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)