Israel warns world not to let up on Iran

As Iran elects 'moderate,' PM Netanyahu says Iran's nuclear program remains biggest threat to world peace • Yachimovich: We must not ignore the changes that Iran is undergoing • Report: Iran to send 4,000 fighters to Syria.

Israel Hayom Staff and The Associated Press

Hassan Rohani, with a picture of Ayatollah Khomeini in the background, gestures to a crowd of supporters in Tehran on Saturday | Photo credit: Reuters

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the international community on Sunday against easing sanctions on Iran following the election of a reformist-backed president, as the country's nuclear efforts remain firmly in the hands of Iran's extremist ruling clerics.

Netanyahu made the comments a day after the surprise victory by Hassan Rohani in Iran's presidential election was announced. Although Rohani is considered a relative moderate and had the backing of Iranian reformists, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the ultimate authority on all state matters and key security policy decisions -- including nuclear efforts, defense and foreign affairs -- remain solidly in the hands of the ruling clerics and their powerful protectors, the Revolutionary Guard.

"We are not deluding ourselves when it comes to the results of the Iranian election," Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. "The international community must not get hung up on its own wishful thinking and become tempted to ease the pressure on Iran."

"The more the pressure on Iran increases, the greater the likelihood that Iran's nuclear program, which remains the biggest threat to world peace, will be stopped," Netanyahu went on to say. "Fifteen years ago, the election of another president considered moderate by the West did not change this aggressive policy. Over the last twenty years, the only thing that has brought about a temporary freeze of the Iranian nuclear program was Iran's fear of an attack in 2003. Iran will be judged by its deeds. If it continues to insist on its nuclear program, the response should be obvious -- stopping the nuclear program in any way possible."

Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be an existential threat, citing Iranian calls for Israel's destruction, its support for anti-Israel terrorist groups and its missile and nuclear technology.

Earlier Sunday, Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz made similar remarks to Army Radio. "It's good to see the Iranian people protest against the radical regime," Steinitz said of the Iranian election results. But he cautioned, "As long as we don't see a change it's better to be wary and not celebrate prematurely."

Among Steinitz's responsibilities is monitoring Iran's nuclear program.

He said he doubted that the election of the new president would soften Iran's stance in its nuclear standoff with the West. "Therefore the international community needs to work hard to tighten sanctions and present a clear ultimatum to Iran in order to maybe bring about change," Steinitz said.

Israel has said that it prefers diplomacy and sanctions to end Iran's nuclear program but has hinted that military action would be an option if other peaceful attempts fail. It has called on the international community to issue a clear ultimatum to Iran to curb its nuclear program.

Responses to the Iranian election poured in from the Israeli Left, as well. Opposition Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich said Sunday that the results of the election reflect the Iranian people's "real mass longing for change."

"In the same way that the experts and politicians couldn't foresee Rohani's victory until 24 hours ago, we should refrain from divining the future based on yesterday's assessments. The new Iranian president cannot be accused of being a fan of Israel, to say the least, and he is subordinate to Supreme Leader Khamenei. But we must not ignore the changes that Iran is undergoing. At the same time, obviously Israel must be strong and prepared for any scenario, with all the options still on the table," Yachimovich said.

Meretz Chairwoman Zehava Gal-On also issued a response Sunday, saying that "Netanyahu is not letting the facts confuse him or derail his attack plans for Iran. It appears that while the Iranian people and the West are welcoming the new, moderate leader Hassan Rohani, the Israeli leadership is lamenting the departure of the tyrant [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad."

"The Iranian threat serves as a card that Netanyahu can wave around any time he wants to distract the public from the real problems here in Israel. But Rohani's election effectively puts an end to the 'Iranian threat' spin and will force the prime minister to find a new 'existential threat'," Gal-On went on to say.

Meanwhile Sunday, The Independent reported that it had learned that a military decision has been taken in Iran -- even before the country's presidential election -- to send a first contingent of 4,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards to Syria to support President Bashar Assad's forces.

"Iran is now fully committed to preserving Assad's regime, according to pro-Iranian sources which have been deeply involved in the Islamic republic's security, even to the extent of proposing to open up a new 'Syrian' front on the Golan Heights against Israel," The Independent reported.