Roll back Iran’s N- capacity: Israel

Earlier, Israeli intelligence minister Yuval Steinitz said all options including military action were on the table in the face of the threat of a nuclear- armed Iran. ‘ If we have no choice, we have no choice,’ he said.

Jerusalem, April 2: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that any deal to emerge from talks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions must seriously diminish its capabilities.

“Any deal must significantly roll back Iran’s nuclear capabilities and stop its terrorism and aggression,” he said in a statement.

Earlier, Israeli intelligence minister Yuval Steinitz said all options including military action were on the table in the face of the threat of a nucleararmed Iran.

Mr Steinitz said Israel would seek to counter any threat through diplomacy and intelligence but “if we have no choice, we have no choice... The military option is on the table”.

The European Union and Iran were expected to give a joint statement on Thursday amid marathon talks in Switzerland aimed at scaling back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, US sources said.

Asked about possible US objections to Israeli military action, Mr Steinitz pointed to Israel’s unilateral attack against the Osirak nuclear reactor in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq in 1981.

“This operation was not carried out in agreement with the United States,” he said.

Mr Steinitz, a close ally of Mr Netanyahu, said the Israeli leader had left no doubt as to the country’s response to nuclear- armed Iran.

“The Prime Minister has said clearly that Israel will not allow Iran to become a nuclear power,” he said.

— AP US secretary of state John Kerry ( from left), high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy Federica Mogherini and Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif arrive on stage for a press event after the end of a new round...

Benjamin Netanyahu