Peres warns IAEA chief of Iran nuclear threat
'It is impossible to separate Iran's nuclear plans from the nature of its regime,' president tells Yukiya Amano in Jerusalem.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Iran nuclearPresident Shimon Peres on Wednesday warned to the chief of the UN's nuclear watchdog on the threat from a nuclear Iran, calling on the world to acknowledge the danger it posed to Israel's security.
"Iran jeopardizes Israel and the rest of the world, as it threatens to use nuclear weapons," said Peres told Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Jerusalem.
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President Shimon Peres and IAEA Director Yukiya Amano, Jerusalem, August 25, 2010 |
| Photo by: Mark Naiman |
Peres and Amano met for the second time since Amano took office earlier this year to discuss regional developments and international supervision over Iran nuclear program.
"It is impossible to separate Iran's nuclear plans from the nature of its regime," said Peres.
Israel and West accuse Iran using a civilian atomic power scheme to mask designs on a bomb – a charge it denies.
"[Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad has called for the destruction of Israel and has denied the holocaust," Peres said. "The international community and the IAEA must take these unprecedented statements as seriously as possible."
He added: "In the last 62 years we have been attacked seven times, and Israel is unique in that sense. The world cannot be blind to the fact that Israel is a state under constant threat."
"Since you began office, we feel you have been professional, objective and fair," the president told Amano. "This position requires a man trusted by all parties, one who can tell right from wrong. Israel feels a profound change in the IAEA. This is a new experience for us."
Amano, who was snubbed by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who canceled a planned meeting to take time out before next week's peace talks in Washington, praised Israel for its medical advances.
"I arrived on Monday. We had a very tight schedule, which included meeting Minister Ya'alon, a visit to the nuclear research center in Soreq, and a helicopter tour. I was impressed by the department of nuclear medicine in Hadassah medical center in Jerusalem. It is a good example of use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," said Amano.
Israel is also widely believed to have an arsenal of around 200 nuclear warheads – but as the country has not signed the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, the IAEA has no inspection rights in the country and has not been allowed access to Israel's main nuclear installation at Dimona..
Despite this, IAEA specialists have made several visits to Soreq, a small nuclear research plant.
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We have yet to hear a SINGLE, credible answer as to why Israel has kept it's nuclear activities beyond scrutiny!! Why? Because they don't have one!! And yet, she screams, shouts and jumps up and down about Iran's nuclear activities!! Israel so reeks of arrogance, contempt, hypocrisy and double standards!! All you will hear from Israelis is "look, don't worry about what we have or haven't got, you should be far more concerned about......."
Every Israeli journalist,all Israeli media people know for sure what even American agencies for security don't know:Iran is running to get a nuclear bomb,but no one of this so well informed people don't know if Israel has nuclear weapon.They are content with a parrot sentence:"according with foreign sources Israel has about 200 nuclear heads",but they know nothing they know only what is happening in Iran and in Syria.
The Director General arrives and the Israeli leaders run and hide. They make sure he visits nothing important and try to keep the focus on Iran. What a charade. Do supporters of Israel really believe the rest of the world is ignorant?
Iran hasn't got a Nuclear weapons But Zionist Right wing fascist Israel has. Israel is the most dangerous country to World peace
mr perez you should have weekly comedy program. you are absolutely hilarious. amazing . you exhibit the real face of real zionist well....like liberman and your prime minester.
Despite the Pollyanna-ish denial of his detractors, President Peres has it right. Iran presents a clear and present danger to the future well being of the Middle East in particular and the entire world in general. IMHO, the only real question is not WHETHER or not to defuse Iran's capabilities, but HOW to do so. What Fools We Mortals Be!
Israel is the major destabilizing factor in the Middle East and until we see the creation of a Palestinian state that shall remain the case. As for Iran mouthy at times and that's about it. This world threat business does not even merit comment.
Iran threatens to use nuclear weapons? Where? When? Who?
Peres will be reminded with this sentence:"we were attacked seven times".I think is not many people in Israel ,even between the settlers extremist to express such nonsense.Maybe he is in the way of George iii who suffered of a mental illness.
may be they have to invite you also? Why not? May be it is good idea to sell tickets to center to tourists. You will complain than that you can't afford to pay 20 shekels.
Your article is one sided. While Israel may have been attacked in the past it too has attached many of its neighbours and started many wars. It is the only country in the Middle East with Nuclear weapons which is a real threat to all the countries in the region and the world. Mr. Ahmadinejad may have verbally said for the destruction of Israel but time and time again all the Iranian ministers in Iran have said they have no intention of attacking any country, including Israel. So unless Israel wants to go to war, then I do not see why it is making such a fuss about Iran attacking it. If Iran is left alone, it will not touch anyone. Eight years of war with Iraq was too much for Iran and it set the country back for 30 years. So the last thing it wants is any war with any country. So for once lets be fair with Iran and let it get on with it civilan nuclear program like its nuclear plant in Busher. Lets not start a war if we really want a future for the children of Israel. Let there be peace with ALL our neighbours, including Iran, Syria and Lebanon. If we show our good will, they will too and we will having lasting peace for our ALL Israeli people. Thank you, Yoram Dagan
The only good will they are expecting is voluntary descend of all the Jews into the sea. Are you ready? Or you just pretend to be an Israeli? Israel never threaten.anybody with nuclear weapons. This (if it exists) to stop attempts of erasing Israel from the maps
created a network of blood thirsty proxies, which don't have any respect to human life, they will be happy to use anything which can harm Israelis, it can be nuclear device provided by Iranian authority or "not-authorized" by authority. It may dirty device which is already available
When civilian ruled democratic govts.have nuclear reactors it,s for civilian purposes like electricity or power utilities ,the USA,France,Britain,etc. wiil never abuse this right, for obvious reasons,a civilian govt. in power Iran, North Korea ,Pakistan ruled by despots/dict ators with no respect for life so they may not have the right to this nuclear power ,period.
Civilian ruled democratic govt is also one who abide by international laws.
So far in world the only nuclear bombing of civilian targets was carried out by one of the planets biggest democracies, America, and fully supported by one of the oldest,Britain.
When civilian ruled democratic govts.have nuclear reactors it,s for civilian purposes like electricity or power utilities ,the USA,France,Britain,etc. wiil never abuse this right, for obvious reasons,a civilian govt. in power Iran, North Korea ,Pakistan ruled by despots/dict ators with no respect for life so they may not have the right to this nuclear power ,period.
"In the last 62 years we have been attacked seven times, and Israel is unique in that sense Oh Really?
How many other countries have been attacked that many times, and fought on that many fronts? And how many have not taken horrible retribution on their opponents? Russia has a similar terrorism problem. Their solution was scorched earth. Israel give the palestinians large amounts of money. Developped an infant medicine program which means that Gaza has one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the middle east (iran is about 40% higher). Offers their kids scholarships, and a reduced course load. In short, tries to help the palestinians. Scorched earth would be easier.
hidden nukes....
If Israel has nothing to hide , open the the door and let the IAEA- Inspectors in !
Why did you declare that? Every country has military secrets, so Israel has. Or you deny this right to Jewish State?
Those days of obfuscation are long gone, open-up your arsenal for the world to see what israel is all about.