Israel did not promise the United States that it would abstain from attacking Iran while negotiations are going on, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.
President Obama responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\’s claim that world powers gave Iran a \”freebie\” by agreeing to hold more talks.
Iran and the six world powers prepared on Friday for rare talks aimed at easing fears that a deepening dispute over the Islamic Republic\’s nuclear program could plunge the Middle East into a new war.
Iran\’s chief nuclear negotiator said his country was prepared to offer \”new initiatives\” at upcoming nuclear talks in Istanbul.
Nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers will be held this week in Istanbul, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that international sanctions were hurting Iran\’s economy but not enough to persuade it to curb its nuclear ambitions even slightly.
Pre-emptive military strikes aimed at forcing Iran to abandon its nuclear activities may end up having the opposite effect: convincing the Islamic Republic\’s leaders they need an atomic arsenal to secure their hold on power.
Israel on Tuesday played down the prospect of an imminent attack on Iran, saying its arch-foe\’s controversial nuclear program could still be set back by sanctions and sabotage.
Israel on Friday took its concern about Iran\’s nuclear programme to one of Iran\’s main partners, China, and hinted it could launch a preemptive attack on the Islamic Republic despite repeated calls by China to allow diplomacy to take its course.
The window for Iran to resolve its differences with the West through diplomacy is shrinking, President Obama said.
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