‘Iran Needs to Fully Dismantles its Nuclear Weapons Program’
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly today,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu devoted his speech to Iran and
Iranian nuclear issue. Following are some key passages.
“Today our hope for the future is challenged by a
nuclear-armed Iran that seeks our destruction. But I want you to know, that wasn't
always the case. Some 2,500 years ago the great Persian king Cyrus ended the
Babylonian exile of the Jewish people.
“President Rouhani, like the presidents who came before him, is a loyal servant
of the regime. He was one of only six candidates the regime permitted to run
for office. See, nearly 700 other candidates were rejected.
“Rouhani headed Iran's Supreme National Security Council from 1989 through
2003. During that time Iran's henchmen gunned down opposition leaders in a
Berlin restaurant. They murdered 85 people at the Jewish community center in
Buenos Aires. They killed 19 American soldiers by blowing up the Khobar Towers
in Saudi Arabia.
“Rouhani doesn't sound like Ahmadinejad. But when it comes
to Iran's nuclear weapons program, the only difference between them is this:
Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf's clothing. Rouhani is a wolf in sheep's
clothing, a wolf who thinks he can pull the eyes -- the wool over the eyes of
the international community.
“Why would a country intent on merely civilian nuclear
programs continue to defy multiple Security Council resolutions and incur the
tremendous cost of crippling sanctions on its economy?
“And why would a country with a peaceful nuclear program
develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, whose sole purpose is to deliver
nuclear warheads? You don't build ICBMs to carry TNT thousands of miles away;
you build them for one purpose, to carry nuclear warheads.
“Ladies and gentlemen, underground nuclear facilities,
heavy water reactors, advanced centrifuges, ICMBs. See, it's not that it's hard
to find evidence that Iran has a nuclear program, a nuclear weapons program;
it's hard to find evidence that Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapons program.
“Last year when I spoke here at the U.N. I drew a red
line. Now, Iran has been very careful not to cross that line but Iran is
positioning itself to race across that line in the future at a time of its
choosing.
“Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is
forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone.
(To Iran): “First, cease all uranium enrichment. This is
called for by several Security Council resolutions. Second, remove from Iran's
territory the stockpiles of enriched uranium. Third, dismantle the infrastructure
for nuclear breakout capability, including the underground facility at Qom and
the advanced centrifuges in Natanz. And, four, stop all work at the heavy water
reactor in Arak aimed at the production of plutonium.
(To international community): “First, keep up the
sanctions. If Iran advances its nuclear weapons program during negotiations,
strengthen the sanctions.
Second, don't agree to a partial deal. A partial deal
would lift international sanctions that have taken years to put in place in
exchange for cosmetic concessions that will take only weeks for Iran to
reverse.
Third, lift the sanctions only when Iran fully dismantles
its nuclear weapons program. My friends, the international community has Iran
on the ropes. If you want to knock out Iran's nuclear weapons program
peacefully, don't let up the pressure. Keep it up.”
To read Netanyahu’s full remarks, published by Israeli Embassy in Washington, please click here.
File photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing UN General Assembly. New York, 1 October 201 (Haaretz)
