Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain said in a video interview with Channel Two television Monday night that international sanctions against Iran can stop it from developing the ability to produce nuclear weapons. The interview was aired hours before his rival, Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama, is scheduled to land in Israel for a high-profile tour of the Middle East and Europe.
Sen. McCain, who is considered to be more knowledgeable than Sen. Obama on foreign affairs, said that the United States and Europe could impose "significant, very painful sanctions on Iran which I think could modify their behavior." He added that a military option does not have to be considered at this point.