Foreign Minister Lieberman (file)
Foreign Minister Lieberman (file)Israel news photo: Flash 90

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman rejected Monday morning a New York Times’ report that the Mossad allegedly agrees with the United States  that Iran may not be seeking an atom bomb.

Calling the Iranian regime ”totally irresponsible” and “fanatical,” he said that “there is no use in talking about leaks” such as those from the Times. “All anyone has to do is to read the last report of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations) and understand there are no doubts” of the intentions of Iran to use nuclear power for military purposes, he explained.

Lieberman said Israel is not afraid of Germany or Japan or other “responsible countries” using nuclear power.

The Times report on Sunday quoted unnamed American sources that the Mossad agrees with the United States that there is no solid proof that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon. The Arutz Sheva report pointed out that the article did not quote any Israeli sources and that the newspaper often serves as a convenient outlet for the Obama administration.

The New York Times generally supports President Barack Obama, who by all accounts is anxious to avoid involvement in another regional war before the presidential elections in November.

Lieberman made his comments in a telephone interview with Voice of Israel government radio from China, where he told a press conference in Beijing, “Despite the harsh sanctions [against Iran], we do not discern any willingness on the part of the Iranians to forego their nuclear plans. We prefer that the international community solve the problem through diplomatic negotiations and other means."

“However, should these prove unsuccessful, it is our right to defend ourselves, and we are keeping all options on the table. We believe that the international community is capable of stopping Iran, it is a matter of resolve and determination.”