Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Iran would be on the brink of nuclear weapons capability in six to seven months, adding new urgency to his demand that President Barack Obama set a clear "red line" for Tehran in what could deepen the worst US-Israeli rift in decades.
Taking his case to the American public, Netanyahu said in US television interviews that by mid-2013, Iran would be 90 percent of the way toward enough enriched uranium for a bomb. He urged the United States to spell out limits that Tehran must not cross or else face military action - something Obama has refused to do.
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A segment of Netanyahu's interview with NBC's "Meet the Press.""You have to place that red line before them now, before it's too late," Netanyahu told NBC's "Meet the Press" program, saying that such a US move could reduce the chances of having to attack Iran's nuclear sites.
The unusually public dispute - coupled with Obama's decision not to meet with Netanyahu later this month - has exposed a deep US-Israeli divide and stepped up pressure on the US leader in the final stretch of a tight presidential election campaign.
Netanyahu also said that Iran's leaders are guided by "unbelievable fanaticism" and warned American policymakers that containment will not work against a nuclear Iran.
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“I wouldn't rely on their rationality,” he stated.
“Since the advent of nuclear weapons, you have countries that had access to nuclear weapons who always made a careful calculation of cost and benefit," he said.
"Iran has a very different zealotry about their survival, there are suicide bombers all over the place," Netanyahu continued.
"It’s the same fanaticism that you see storming your embassies today,” Netanyahu added, in an apparent reference to the wave of violent protests at American embassies in the Muslim world. “You want these fanatics to have nuclear weapons?”
He went on to comment that if anyone thought Iran having nuclear capability would work to stabilize the Middle East, that they would set a "new standard for human stupidity." Netanyahu's comments come in the wake of reported friction between the US and Israel over Iran.
US President Barack Obama told 1,200 American rabbis Friday via a conference call that he was not willing to impose a “set of conditions” on how he would handle Iran – according to participants on the call.
On Friday, Iranian President Ahmadinejad also commented upon the US-Israel relationship, stating that US decision-makers have already come to the understanding that the Zionist regime is “no longer beneficial to them.”
He added that the Zionists are seeking new ways to "disturb the game," Iranian state-run Fars News Agency reported.
Taking his case to the American public, Netanyahu said in US television interviews that by mid-2013, Iran would be 90 percent of the way toward enough enriched uranium for a bomb. He urged the United States to spell out limits that Tehran must not cross or else face military action - something Obama has refused to do.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
A segment of Netanyahu's interview with NBC's "Meet the Press.""You have to place that red line before them now, before it's too late," Netanyahu told NBC's "Meet the Press" program, saying that such a US move could reduce the chances of having to attack Iran's nuclear sites.
The unusually public dispute - coupled with Obama's decision not to meet with Netanyahu later this month - has exposed a deep US-Israeli divide and stepped up pressure on the US leader in the final stretch of a tight presidential election campaign.
Netanyahu also said that Iran's leaders are guided by "unbelievable fanaticism" and warned American policymakers that containment will not work against a nuclear Iran.
Related:
“I wouldn't rely on their rationality,” he stated.
“Since the advent of nuclear weapons, you have countries that had access to nuclear weapons who always made a careful calculation of cost and benefit," he said.
"Iran has a very different zealotry about their survival, there are suicide bombers all over the place," Netanyahu continued.
"It’s the same fanaticism that you see storming your embassies today,” Netanyahu added, in an apparent reference to the wave of violent protests at American embassies in the Muslim world. “You want these fanatics to have nuclear weapons?”
He went on to comment that if anyone thought Iran having nuclear capability would work to stabilize the Middle East, that they would set a "new standard for human stupidity." Netanyahu's comments come in the wake of reported friction between the US and Israel over Iran.
US President Barack Obama told 1,200 American rabbis Friday via a conference call that he was not willing to impose a “set of conditions” on how he would handle Iran – according to participants on the call.
On Friday, Iranian President Ahmadinejad also commented upon the US-Israel relationship, stating that US decision-makers have already come to the understanding that the Zionist regime is “no longer beneficial to them.”
He added that the Zionists are seeking new ways to "disturb the game," Iranian state-run Fars News Agency reported.