Olmert pushed for a united international response against Iran's continuing nuclear activities, seeking to isolate President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Israel has also submitted a complaint to the UN, saying Iran is violating the UN charter by threatening the destruction of a member state.
The Iranian leader announced that Iran’s nuclear capabilities continue to grow despite western intervention seeking to halt the nuclear program. "Enemies who seek to prevent us must know that today, our nuclear capabilities are ten times more than they were at this time a year ago,” Ahmadinejad told supporters in southern Tehran.
Assurances by the Iranian president that the nuclear technology would be used solely for peaceful domestic use have not swayed Israeli officials, who maintain Iran is building a nuclear weapon.
Speaking at a business conference Monday, Olmert said Israel considers Iran to be the greatest threat to its survival, one the world should not be ignoring. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel to be “wiped off the map,” and Iran currently has in its arsenal ballistic missiles capable of reaching the Jewish state.
Olmert said Israeli forces are indeed preparing to deal with the Iranian threat, with the prime minister warning last week that there would be “a price to pay” if the Islamic Republic does not end its nuclear activities.
“Our soldiers will be trained to counter the threats facing Israel, first and foremost the Iranian threat, and we have already begun with that task,” Olmert reportedly told a meeting of Kadima party members.
However, while the prime minister warned the world that Israel would not stand by in the face of an existential threat from Iran, party colleague and Vice Premier Shimon Peres was working to downplay Olmert’s remarks.
“Israel has never shown aggressive intentions,” Peres said in an interview on Channel 2 TV. “I don’t think we must be, or are, capable of being the ones to deal with this issue,” he said. Both Israel and the U.S. have not ruled out military action as a last resort if diplomatic efforts fail to end Iran’s nuclear activities.
Both Kadima party leaders have publicly backed long-threatened United Nations Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic in the face of its continued refusal to end its uranium enrichment program.
Those sanctions, however, have yet to be finalized, let alone imposed on Iran - in contrast to the world body’s immediate response with sanctions against North Korea after the South Asian nation carried out an underground nuclear test this month.
Russia has consistently opposed the imposition of sanctions against Iran by the U.N. Security Council. Moreover, President Vladimir Putin warned during his meeting with Olmert in Moscow last week against any military action against Iran.
The Iranian leader announced that Iran’s nuclear capabilities continue to grow despite western intervention seeking to halt the nuclear program. "Enemies who seek to prevent us must know that today, our nuclear capabilities are ten times more than they were at this time a year ago,” Ahmadinejad told supporters in southern Tehran.
Assurances by the Iranian president that the nuclear technology would be used solely for peaceful domestic use have not swayed Israeli officials, who maintain Iran is building a nuclear weapon.
Speaking at a business conference Monday, Olmert said Israel considers Iran to be the greatest threat to its survival, one the world should not be ignoring. Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel to be “wiped off the map,” and Iran currently has in its arsenal ballistic missiles capable of reaching the Jewish state.
Olmert said Israeli forces are indeed preparing to deal with the Iranian threat, with the prime minister warning last week that there would be “a price to pay” if the Islamic Republic does not end its nuclear activities.
“Our soldiers will be trained to counter the threats facing Israel, first and foremost the Iranian threat, and we have already begun with that task,” Olmert reportedly told a meeting of Kadima party members.
However, while the prime minister warned the world that Israel would not stand by in the face of an existential threat from Iran, party colleague and Vice Premier Shimon Peres was working to downplay Olmert’s remarks.
“Israel has never shown aggressive intentions,” Peres said in an interview on Channel 2 TV. “I don’t think we must be, or are, capable of being the ones to deal with this issue,” he said. Both Israel and the U.S. have not ruled out military action as a last resort if diplomatic efforts fail to end Iran’s nuclear activities.
Both Kadima party leaders have publicly backed long-threatened United Nations Security Council sanctions against the Islamic Republic in the face of its continued refusal to end its uranium enrichment program.
Those sanctions, however, have yet to be finalized, let alone imposed on Iran - in contrast to the world body’s immediate response with sanctions against North Korea after the South Asian nation carried out an underground nuclear test this month.
Russia has consistently opposed the imposition of sanctions against Iran by the U.N. Security Council. Moreover, President Vladimir Putin warned during his meeting with Olmert in Moscow last week against any military action against Iran.