Asia

Home page

Asia

Iranian defense minister downplays Israeli prime minister’s remarks at UN assembly

29 September 2012 19:47 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has downplayed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent remarks against Iran at the UN General Assembly, APA reports quoting the semi-official Fars news agency.

Speaking at the United Nations on Thursday, Netanyahu said a firm ultimatum should be issued to Iran to stop it from getting a nuclear weapon before next spring or early summer.

Israel crossed the red line long ago when it made tens of nuclear warheads, Vahidi was quoted as saying.

"If possession of (nuclear) bombs means crossing the red line, the Zionist regime of Israel that possesses tens of nuclear warheads and different weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) has crossed the red line many years ago and ought to be confronted," said Vahidi.

"If the U.S. and Western leaders are really after defusing danger in the region and the world, they should cut relations with the dangerous Zionist regime and exert pressure and sanctions on this regime until a full dismantlement of its WMDs," he added.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, and warns that it will retaliate if it comes under an attack.