Peres Resumes Hard-line Against Iran

The Jerusalem Post:

Vice Premier Shimon Peres said Thursday morning that if Teheran was to achieve nuclear capabilities, it would make its way to terrorist organizations and that a nuclear threat would "crop up in every international conflict." READ MORE

In reaction to criticism of his comments made earlier this week, in which he said that Iran too could be wiped off the map, Peres told Israel Radio that Israel needed to be strong in the face of its aggressors and was not going to be pushed around by Iran's leaders.

At around the same time Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking during his visit to Indonesia, called Israel "a regime based on evil that cannot continue and one day will vanish."

Ahmadinejad said he was ready to negotiate with the United States and other countries over his country's nuclear program, but warned that threats against his country would make talks more difficult.

Asked what it would take to begin talks with the United States to resolve the standoff, he said the country would talk to anyone except Israel, which Iran does not recognize.

"There are no limits to our dialogue," he said. "But if someone points an arm (a weapon) at your face and says you must speak, will you do that?" said Ahmadinejad, without elaborating.

The Iranian leader told Indonesia's Metro TV station that he was unconcerned about the possibility of UN sanctions, saying the West had more to lose than Iran did if the country was isolated.

"We do not need to be dependent on others," he said, adding international isolation would serve only to "motivate" the country's nuclear scientists.

Ahmadinejad said he was ready to negotiate with the United States and other countries over his country's nuclear program, but warned that threats against his country would make talks more difficult.

Asked what it would take to begin talks with the United States to resolve the standoff, he said the country would talk to anyone except Israel, which Iran does not recognize.

"There are no limits to our dialogue," he said. "But if someone points an arm (a weapon) at your face and says you must speak, will you do that?" said Ahmadinejad, without elaborating.

The Iranian leader told Indonesia's Metro TV station that he was unconcerned about the possibility of UN sanctions, saying the West had more to lose than Iran did if the country was isolated.

"We do not need to be dependent on others," he said, adding international isolation would serve only to "motivate" the country's nuclear scientists.

Peres called on all nations to continue in their struggle to prevent nuclear arms from getting into the hands of Iran and its leaders.