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Israel views Iran talks as waste of time
Israel dismissed talks between world powers and Iran as futile, saying Tehran would never give up its alleged bid to acquire nuclear weapons and calling for 'real' sanctions on its archfoe.
Israel dismissed talks between world powers and Iran as futile, saying Tehran would never give up its alleged bid to acquire nuclear weapons and calling for "real" sanctions on its archfoe.
"This is a waste of time," said Silvan Shalom, Israel's vice prime minister. "The Iranians will never abandon their plan to become a nuclear power."
Shalom's comments came as six world powers started talks with Iranian envoys in Geneva aimed at securing guarantees from Tehran that its nuclear programme was peaceful.
Shalom said trying to have United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on Iran was also "a waste of time" as China and Russia would likely never support such a move.
"What needs to be done is to impose real sanctions by the United States, the EU together with Australia and Japan, which account for 60 percent of Iran's trade," Shalom said ahead of an Israeli cabinet meeting.
"That would deal a heavy blow that will force Iran to abandon its programme. If the sanctions are real, they will work against Iran."
Israel, widely considered to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, suspects Iran of trying to build atomic weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear programme, a charge which Tehran denies.
