'World leaders must meet their commitments to stop Iran'

Peres calls for int'l action to halt Iranian nuclear program; expresses uncertainty at decision to speed settlement building.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Shimon Peres 311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Shimon Peres 311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
President Shimon Peres called on Sunday for international action in order to halt Iran's nuclear program, in an Army Radio interview.
"Many leaders from various countries pledged not to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, and we need to demand that they meet those commitments," he explained.
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Calling the recent House panel approves tougher sanctions on Iran'UK speeding up planning for potential US-led Iran attack'approve new housing units in response to the Palestinian Authority's admittance to UNESCO, Peres stated that he was not sure if it was a useful step.
"It's not an issue of punishments. We need to strive for the basic purpose - the renewal of direct negotiations despite all difficulties," he said, adding that only direct talks can bring the Palestinians statehood and not the UN Security Council.
In an interview with Channel 2 on Friday, Peres said that he believes Israel is closer to utilizing the military option in dealing with Iran's nuclear program than it is to finding a diplomatic solution to the threat.
The president suggested that the media speculation about a potential attack on Iran may have some basis in truth. "Intelligence services in many countries are looking at the clock and warning their leaders that not much time remains. I do not know if these world leaders will act on this advice."
Peres said that Iran could be as close as six months from becoming nuclear-armed and it is Israel's role to warn the world of the danger. He suggested that the speculation about an attack on Iran may be a way of reminding the world of the Iranian threat.