Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that diplomacy and sanctions have not halted Iran's nuclear programme, and warned against taking any more time to block its alleged efforts to develop nuclear weapons, M&C reported citing DPA.
“None of us can afford to wait much longer,” Netanyahu told the annual meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), an influential, pro-Israel lobbying group.
His speech punctuated months of rising tension over Tehran's resistance to international demands that it stop its nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment. There is growing suspicion by the International Atomic Energy Agency that Iran might be trying to hide a weapons programme.
“As prime minister of Israel, I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation,” Netanyahu vowed. Iran has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction, and “they work for this every day, each day, relentlessly,” he said.
Netanyahu met earlier with US President Barack Obama, who reassured him that the United States would “have Israel's back” on security issues. The talks came amid growing speculation that Israel could launch a military strike against Iran.
Obama pleaded with AIPAC on Sunday for more “time and space” for sanctions to work, and made clear that he would only use force “when the time and circumstances demand it.”
He warned against “too much loose talk of war” but reassured Israel that he had taken “no options off the table” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“We deeply appreciate the great alliance between our countries, but when it comes to Israel's survival, we must always remain the masters of our fate,” Netanyahu said.
