Peres: Iranians can't feed their kids uranium

President Shimon Peres said yesterday that the global economic crisis and falling oil prices would hinder Iran's nuclear program, and that Iranian leaders could not feed their children "uranium for breakfast."

Peres, visiting the Israeli Arab town of Sakhnin to mark the Islamic Feast of the Sacrifice, also commented on U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's remark that he would be willing to open talks with Tehran. Peres said Obama's goal should be international cooperation and unity among Western powers with respect to Iran.

"The leaders of Iran cannot give their children uranium for breakfast," Peres said, adding that the world financial crisis would hamper Iran's progress in its nuclear program. "As the price of oil declines, Iran doesn't have as much money to invest in uranium, missiles and terrorism."

According to Peres, the American president-elect should concentrate his Iran efforts on consolidating the policies of the West. "Obama should bring about international cooperation," he said.