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Last update - 23:35 26/09/2009
Netanyahu to U.S.: Time is now for action on Iran nukes
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
Tags: Obama, nuclear, Israel news 

Now is the time to act to halt the Iranian nuclear program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Senators and Congress members over the weekend.

The prime minister's message, which he made in telephone conversations, came a day after evidence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear facility was presented by U.S. President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain and France at the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh.

"If not now, then when?" Netanyahu reportedly asked in the conversations with American officials.
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Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Saturday that the newly exposed nuclear facility in Iran was built for military purposes and was proof that the Islamic Republic is seeking atomic weapons.

"I spoke this weekend with experts from the East and West," Lieberman told Israel Radio. "No one has any doubt, according to the technical data that was published, it's a military core. The disagreement has been done away with."

Israeli leaders have repeatedly expressed alarm over Iran's nuclear ambitions and refused to rule out pre-emptive military action to stop Iran developing an atomic weapon.

Tehran insists its nuclear plans are peaceful and has resisted U.S.-led diplomatic pressure to curb its uranium enrichment, which can be used to generate electricity or make bombs.

On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama demanded that Iran come clean about its nuclear program or risk "sanctions that bite," after the disclosure that a new plant was under construction southwest of Tehran.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the facility was legal and open for inspection by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran is set to meet the United States and five other powers in October to discuss its nuclear program.

Asked whether the strong words from Obama and other Western leaders came too late, Lieberman said: "No one wanted to admit the truth. Everyone tried, like always, to placate this mad regime."

"I hope that after this latest revelation, at the discussion to open on October 1... the message passed from the start will be unequivocal," he said.

Israel considers Iran a strategic threat due to its nuclear program, missile development and repeated references by Ahmadinejad to Israel's destruction.

Lieberman said he met with Arab foreign ministers while at the United Nations last week and said they expressed their alarm over Iran's nuclear program to him.

"Nobody is worried about the Palestinian problem, everybody in the Muslim and Arab world, and first and foremost in the Gulf states, are worried about the Iranian problem," the foreign minister said.

Obama issues ultimatum to Iran over nukes

Not letting up on Iran, Obama said Saturday that the Islamic republic must take action to demonstrate its peaceful intentions after the discovery of the covert nuclear facility, or it will be held accountable by the world's nations.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said that evidence showing Iran building a new underground plant to enrich uranium that could be used for an atomic bomb continues a disturbing pattern of Iranian evasion that jeopardizes global nonproliferation.

He urged Tehran once again to open the site to international inspectors, or face consequences. The chief option is tougher economic sanctions, but on Friday Obama and administration officials did not rule out military action.

"My offer of a serious, meaningful dialogue to resolve this issue remains open," Obama said. "But Iran must now cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and take action to demonstrate its peaceful intentions."

"Iran's leaders must now choose - they can live up to their responsibilities and achieve integration with the community of nations. Or they will face increased pressure and isolation, and deny opportunity to their own people," he said.

Evidence of the clandestine facility was unveiled Friday by Obama and the leaders of Britain and France at the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh, where it overshadowed developments on regulating financial markets and reducing fossil fuel subsidies.

Soon after, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, at his own news conference, urged Iran to cooperate, as did Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. He, however, did not endorse sanctions against the country.

"On this, the international community is more united than ever before ... that Iran must fulfill its responsibilities," Obama said.

Iran, so far, hasn't budged.

At a news conference in New York, Ahmadinejad said his country had done nothing wrong and Obama would regret his actions.

Ahmadinejad said the plant - which Iranian officials say was reported to nuclear authorities as required - wouldn't be operational for 18 months. But he sidestepped a question about whether Iran had sufficient uranium to manufacture a nuclear weapon.

The head of Iran's nuclear program suggested that United Nations inspectors may be allowed to visit the site. Ali Akbar Salehi called the incomplete facility a semi-industrial plant for enriching nuclear fuel, but he gave no other details, according to the state news agency IRNA.

Obama, and other world leaders, will be looking to see where Iran stands next week during a meeting of major nations on the nuclear issue.

Obama said Saturday the negotiations have taken on added urgency.


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      1.   Ultimatum on Sept 26 with talks to start on Oct 2? 14:01  |  Avi 26/09/09
      2.   obamas "ultimatum" 14:26  |  interested observer 26/09/09
      3.   YEAH RIGHT, IRAN IS TREMBLING NOW... 14:28  |  Paul Ling 26/09/09
      4.   Iran needs to prove its case 14:36  |  Peter Williams 26/09/09
      5.   A joke? 14:42  |  Yaron 26/09/09
      6.   What would Obama or americans do if.... 14:52  |  Siad 26/09/09
      7.   Obama`s threats are impotent 15:03  |  Jeff 26/09/09
      8.   Sanctions are useless. Just wait until they get the BOMB... 15:10  |  S 26/09/09
      9.   Obama 15:21  |  Michael 26/09/09
      10.   why not israel? 15:37  |  Petros 26/09/09
      11.   satanas 15:38  |  satanas 26/09/09
      12.   "My offer of a serious, meaningful dialogue to resolve this issue 15:40  |  David 26/09/09
      13.   so what? 17:26  |  sameer 26/09/09
      14.   loco 17:29  |  no one 26/09/09
      15.   @Peter Williams 17:37  |  Radu 26/09/09
      16.   Israel nuclear facilities 18:04  |  natterer 26/09/09
      17.   WHy wait for Obama ???? 18:56  |  Bill 26/09/09
      18.   To all President Obama haters. 19:06  |  Lou Medel 26/09/09
      19.   Unfortunately, not direct strategic threat to US 19:09  |  Paul Freedman 26/09/09
      20.   IRANIAN NUKES = REVERSE MIGRATION 19:10  |  Simon Katz 26/09/09
      21.   #13 19:22  |  Jeffrey 26/09/09
      22.   naterrer - just to help 19:22  |  17 26/09/09
      23.   Iran will expect Obama`s demands just like Isreal has... 19:26  |  lol 26/09/09
      24.   petros, #10 19:41  |  citizen zero 26/09/09
      25.   Qom open the IAEA inspection 20:08  |  Jim 26/09/09
      26.   Let me guess, those who believe Goldstone, believe Iran too 20:17  |  Dan 26/09/09
      27.   natterer # 16 _ Let Me Help You By Saying This 21:04  |  Eli 26/09/09
      28.   natterer # 16 _ Let Me Help You By Saying This 21:04  |  Eli 26/09/09
      29.   #22...So does Iran..... 21:30  |  ali 26/09/09
      30.   #22 citizen zero in toronto. liar, liar, pants on fire. 21:30  |  Lou Medel 26/09/09
      31.   Eli, Berkeley, no explanation is possible!! 21:44  |  alan 26/09/09
      32.   2nd Nuke site 22:07  |  Colin Nelson 26/09/09
      33.   To Petros 00:06  |  Josh 27/09/09
      34.   The issue with Iran 00:14  |  Gary Holt 27/09/09
      35.   Time now to liquidate Isra-Arab conflict by liquidating setlemnts 00:14  |  Ivar 27/09/09
      36.   citizen zero 00:21  |  Petros 27/09/09
      37.   To S (#8) 00:23  |  Morris Valentine 27/09/09
      38.   Petros, here`s your answer 00:33  |  Heather Czerniak 27/09/09
      39.   Eli 24 & 25 00:35  |  Petros 27/09/09
      40.   natterer 00:43  |  Heather Czerniak 27/09/09
      41.   Get real 01:12  |  Mark Lincoln 27/09/09
      42.   Eli, why should Israel be trusted with nukes? 01:15  |  BBSNews 27/09/09
      43.   A First Ever? 01:19  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/09/09
      44.   us has known about this site for three years 01:33  |  arash parsi 27/09/09
      45.   Iran 01:38  |  TC 27/09/09
      46.   Iran should Link Its Enrichment to Israel`s Inspections 01:13  |  Monitor 27/09/09
      47.   :: It`s Israel`s fault really... 01:26  |  Matty Groves 27/09/09
      48.   To Petros 01:27  |  Californian 27/09/09
      49.   :: Israel should be treated like Iran 01:28  |  Matty Groves 27/09/09
      50.   Paul Pollard Freedman # 17 Unfortunate? for who? 01:32  |  American in NY 27/09/09
      51.   Petros & "Iranian responsibility" 01:47  |  A TRUE American 27/09/09
      52.   I KNOW WHEN 01:48  |  Middle Easy Guru - 27/09/09
      53.   Three Things... 01:50  |  Yosemite 27/09/09
      54.   The overlooked reality 01:59  |  A TRUE American 27/09/09
      55.   Iran`s nuke capabilities 08:17  |  Ray C 27/09/09
      56.   Netanyahu Instructs US Congress 13:45  |  Wilson 27/09/09
      57.   Radu Why? 15:01  |  Peter Williams 27/09/09
      58.   Now is the time for action 15:28  |  Bob Van den Broeck 27/09/09
      59.   Iran Nuclear Plant at Qum 15:49  |  Mikhail 27/09/09
      60.   why not Israel? 16:26  |  Sol Freud 27/09/09
      61.   #50, my namesake, is right.... 16:31  |  bob 27/09/09
      62.   Israel Nuclear facilities 16:33  |  dino 27/09/09
      63.   Iran 02:04  |  Joe Kelsall 28/09/09
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