Netanyahu: Iran ‘Wobbling’

Prime Minister tells The Australian: „For the first time, I see Iran wobble,under the sanctions that have been adopted.”

By Gil Ronen

First Publish: 1/16/2012, 8:56 AM

 

„For the first time, I see Iran wobble under the sanctions that have been adopted and especially under the threat of strong sanctions on their central bank,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says in an interview published this weekend in The Australian.

He explained, „If these sanctions are coupled with a clear statement from the international community led by the US to act militarily to stop Iran if the sanctions fail, Iran may consider not going through the pain. There’s no point in gritting your teeth if you’re going to be stopped anyway. In any case, the Iranian economy is showing signs of strain.”

The US has warned Iran that by blocking the Strait of Hormuz will be crossing a „red line.”

Netanyahu told his interviewer Greg Sheridan that he does not feel Israel is as isolated internationally as some may think. „I just had breakfast with the Indian foreign minister. We talked about great projects of co-operation. It was a very positive conversation. We have similar experiences with China, which we feel has a desire for greater co-operation with Israel. Both countries express a real appreciation for Israeli technology. Israel has become a world power in technology, in agriculture, in medicine, in irrigation, in telecommunications, in IT, in cyber and in many other areas.

„The same thing is happening in Africa. I’m going there soon, but I just had visits from the leaders of Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan. They’re concerned with the Islamist tide above them.

„We have excellent relations with many countries of central Europe. They’re concerned with the Islamist tide to the south. Canada is like the other Australia, or Australia is like the other Canada, an extraordinary country.”