Lapid: Only ‘credible military threat’ will stop Iran’s nuclear programme

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid yesterday told French President Emmanuel Macron that only a “credible military threat” will stop Iran’s nuclear programme, Israel’s i24 News reported.

During a meeting at the Elysee Palace, Lapid “reiterated the Israeli position that Iran is trying to buy time in order to promote its nuclear program.”

According to a statement issued by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Lapid mentioned the need for preparing an urgent plan to deal with Iran, reiterating that Israel’s position “is being heard and Israel’s position is firm.”

The statement also stated that Lapid said: “Sanctions on Iran must not be removed. Sanctions must be tightened, a credible military threat must be applied, because only that will stop its nuclear race.”

READ: Israel army preparing for all scenarios to strike Iran, spokesman says 

He continued: “The race did not stop here and the race did not stop at the talks in Vienna,” where the talks on Iran’s nuclear programme were resumed.

“With [Prime Minister Naftali] Bennett and Defence Minister [Benny] Gantz who are going to Washington next week, we will continue to work to ensure that the world fully understands the Iranian threat,” he stressed.

Lapid described the meeting with Macron as “warm.”

On Twitter, he wrote: “I just finished a long and warm meeting with the President of France, @EmmanuelMacron. During our meeting, we discussed at length the resumption of talks with Iran.”

I just finished a long and warm meeting with the President of France, @EmmanuelMacron. During our meeting, we discussed at length the resumption of talks with Iran. pic.twitter.com/hg36GVLBHN

— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) November 30, 2021