WAR DRUMS! Israeli PM says time running out to stop Iran's nuclear programme

Binyamin Netanyahu tells visiting US defence secretary that sanctions and diplomacy have so far failed to end standoff.


Time is running out for the international community to halt Iran's nuclear programme by peaceful means, the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, told US defence secretary Leon Panetta in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

Sanctions, diplomacy and declarations of a willingness to take military action as a last resort had not yet convinced the Iranians to stop their programme, he said. "However forceful our statements, they have not convinced Iran that we are serious about stopping them. Right now the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear programme."

Netanyahu said earlier that although sanctions were hurting the Iranian economy, such measures had "yet to move its nuclear programme even a millimetre backwards".

read more http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/01/israeli-pm-iran-nuclear-programme