Netanyahu says Iran nuke program must be stopped by any means

PanARMENIAN.Net - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the West on Sunday, June 16, not to let up pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions after the election of a new president widely seen as a moderate, Haaretz reported.

"We won’t fool ourselves, [and] the international community shouldn’t be tempted into wishful thinking and weaken the pressure on Iran regarding their nuclear program,” Netanyahu said of the election results.

"We should recall that in the first place the Iranian ruler disqualified candidates who didn't suit his extremist views, and of those whose candidacy was permitted, someone who is seen as less identified with the regime was elected," Netanyahu said. "This is still someone who called Israel 'the Great Satan.' In any case, the Iranian ruler who is called the 'supreme leader' is the one who determines Iran's nuclear policy."

"The greater the pressure on Iran the greater the chances of stopping the Iranian nuclear program, which remains the greatest threat to world peace," Netanyahu added.

"The only thing that led to a freeze in the Iranian nuclear program in the past 20 years was Iran's of a military action against it in 2003," said Netanyahu. "Iran will be tested by its deeds: If it continues with its nuclear program it must be stopped by any means possible."

Netanyahu was referring to reactions in the U.S. administration and the European Union to the election of Hassan Rowhani to the Iranian presidency. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Saturday that the United States respects the choice of the Iranian people and hopes that the new government will make responsible decisions for the sake of a better future.

EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton said that she is committed to working with the new Iranian leadership in order to solve the issue of the nuclear program through diplomatic means. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that Rowhani's election victory demonstrates that the Iranian people voted for reforms and a constructive foreign policy.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that his country is willing to work with the new presidentin order to solve the nuclear issue. The British Foreign Office said: "We call on him to use the opportunity to set Iran on a different course for the future."