'Oil Price Cut Can Stop Iran'

Maayana Miskin 'Oil Price Cut Can Stop Iran'

President Shimon Peres visited the Israeli Arab city of Sakhnin in the Galilee on Tuesday in honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Adha and spoke on Israel's response to Iran's nuclear program and his views on regional peace..
“There is no need to use military force against Iran at this stage,” Peres told his audience. Instead, he said, Israel must work with the United States, Europe and China to reduce the price of oil, thus depleting Iran's economy and leaving it without resources to pursue nuclear bombs and other weapons.

"Iran's unlawful behavior is not a result of western pacifism, but rather of western division,” Peres said. “If the West had taken a united stance regarding Iran, Iran's nuclear program would not have made it this far.”

He called on Iranian leaders to focus on social problems and not military development, saying, “Iran's leaders must ask themselves what the children will eat tomorrow morning. What will they give them, uranium?” Nuclear development will not solve Iran's problems, he said.

Peres also took the opportunity to promote a region-wide peace deal, saying, “We cannot take too much more time to arrive at a comprehensive peace agreement with the entire Middle East.” Peres has been vocal in his support for a regional peace pact based roughly on the 2002 Saudi Initiative.

Comment: With respect to Mr. Peres-of course if the West was united things may be different. However, this kind of wishful thinking is precisely just wishful thinking. The West is not unites, too many countries fear reduction in their energy supplies if they take certain actions; other countries like Germany continue to trade with Iran and need the business. Thus, the idea that the entire West or even the majority of power countries would place rigorous sanctions is a not going to happen. To continue to ask for this is fine but someone or ones must provide the necessary leadership to let Iran know business as usual is over.