Israel Matzav

Iran warns West to 'act free of Zionist pressures'

Just three days before the P 5+1 talks are due to resume in Baghdad, and one day before IAEA chief Yukiya Amano is due to arrive in Tehran Iran is warning the West to 'act free of Zionist pressures.'

In a statement released Sunday, the Iranian parliament called on the West "to give up their strategy of deceit and dual-track" policy.

"We warn the Group 5+1 (sic) to respect the rights of the Iranian nation, act on the basis of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is an internationally accepted norm and free from the Zionists' pressures and change the policy of confrontation with the Islamic Republic to a policy of interaction," FARS quoted Iran's parliament as saying.

YNet adds:

[D]iscussing the upcoming talks in Baghdad, Minister Moshe Ya'alon said that it would be preferable for the Iranian nuclear program to be stopped without a military operation.

"Anyone who has experienced war understands that war is the last thing (you want) even though you always have to be prepared," Ya'alon noted and expressed his support for sanctions and political isolation towards Iran.

Ya'alon added that "at this stage the Iranians are still maneuvering in order to play for time…" noting that he "hoped the western representatives who are currently negotiating with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program "don't fall into the Iranian trap as they did in the past – of maneuvering in order to play for time."

My view: They'll have a few hours of inconclusive but 'productive' talks on Wednesday, and they'll agree to meet again in late June or early July.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Iranian nuclear threat, Moshe Yaalon, P 5+1, Yukia Amano

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:12 PM