Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for “a credible military option against Iran” to force Tehran to end its nuclear energy program.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu said that military action should be taken by the international community and headed by the United States.
"You have to ratchet up the pressure and… I don't think that this pressure will be sufficient to have this regime change course without a credible military option that is put before them by the international community led by the United States," he stated.
He went on to say that sanctions are not enough to stop Iran's nuclear energy program, and they should be backed by some military action.
He has made similar bellicose remarks in the past, but they were always rejected by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Netanyahu made the comments a week after Tehran announced Iran's nuclear sites were being opened to envoys representing "geographical and political groups" in the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The invitation came ahead of the multifaceted talks between Iran and the P5+1 group — Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany — that are scheduled to be held in Turkey from January 21 to 22.
Iran and the P5+1 group wrapped up two days of comprehensive talks in Geneva on December 7, during which the two sides agreed to hold the next round of negotiations in Turkey.
Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili represented Iran at the talks and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton represented the P5+1 group.
The UN Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran last year.
But Tehran says sanctions have failed to hamper its efforts to master peaceful nuclear technology.
And the IAEA continues to conduct regular inspections and camera surveillance of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Iranian officials say the talks provide an opportunity to display Iran's policy of nuclear transparency to the international community.
AS/JM/HGL
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