Defense Minister Ehud Barak
Defense Minister Ehud BarakIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Iran is trying to deceive the world while dragging its feet, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told visiting U.S. Senators Monday.  

“The recent round of talks in Baghdad proves once again, that Iran is only interested in dragging its feet while attempting to deceive the world. I would like to reiterate [US Defense] Secretary Panetta's comments yesterday: All options remain firmly on the table," Barak told the legislators.

Panetta said on ABC’s This Week program, “We have plans to be able to implement any contingency we have to in order to defend ourselves. The fundamental premise is that neither the United States nor the international community is going to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.’’

Barak also told the senators that the world must “unite and act immediately to stop the ongoing massacre of innocents” in Syria.

“Israel supports the UN Security Council's condemnation of the atrocities in Syria. The pictures of the children's mutilated bodies are both shocking and disturbing,” said the Defense Minister.

Among the delegation of U.S. Senators were Republican Richard Burr of North Carolina and Democrats Mark Udall of Colorado, Mark Warner of Virginia and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.

Their visit comes several days after approximately 50 co-sponsors signed to support a bill, which already has passed the House of Representatives, to expand security aid to Israel, including offering the Israeli Air Force more opportunities to train in the United States making more weapons and military services available to Israel.