Netanyahu
NetanyahuFlash 90

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu kept up the rhetorical pressure Monday on the six world powers – known as the P5+1 – that are about to resume talks with Iran over its nuclear weapons program, demanding as he has countless times that tougher measures be taken against the rogue Islamist theocracy.

In an address to the Conference of Presidents, Netanyahu demanded that Iran's nuclear enrichment prowess be brought down to "zero centrifuges." He said that the concessions Iran has made thus far in negotiations with the P5+1 have only set back its nuclear "breakout time" by one month.

Earlier in the day, speaking alongside Peruvian President Ollanta Moisés Humala Tasso, who is in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that “we all want to see a more peaceful world, and I think that the greatest threat to this peaceful world is Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons. Tomorrow the P5+1 will continue, will resume its negotiations with Iran.

“Thus far, the only ones who has gained form these negotiations has been Iran. They’ve given practically nothing, but they’ve gained a lot. They’ve gained a reduction of sanctions, the Iranian economy is improving, but today the President, the Ruler of Iran Khamenei has said that these negotiations will come to nothing, to nothing in terms of stopping Iran’s nuclear program, but to a lot when it comes to easing the sanctions on Iran’s economy.

“Iran, unfortunately, continues its aggressive behavior, both in arming terrorist groups and supporting the butchery of the Assad regime and calling for Israel’s destruction and in subversive activities everywhere around the world, including in Latin America. So we believe a different policy is required – one that requires Iran to stop its aggression, to stop its military nuclear program, to become a nation among the nation and not a rogue state that arms itself with nuclear weapons. I think that’s important for Israel, I think it’s important for Peru, I think it’s important for the peace of the world.”

Iranian “Supreme Leader” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday that he had agreed to the talks with the P5+1 at the behest of some Iranian leaders, but accused Washington of using the nuclear issue as an excuse to pressure Tehran.

"The nuclear issue is an excuse," Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state TV. "Even if one day, against all the odds, it is solved based on the Americans' expectations, then Americans will seek another issue to follow it. Just pay attention to the spokespersons of the U.S. government, who have also raised the issue of human rights, missiles and arms," said Khamenei.

"The job that foreign ministry has started will be continued," he said, however. "Iran will not violate what it has promised, but Americans are hostile toward the Islamic revolution and the Islamic Republic."

In other comments posted on his website, Khamenei repeated his pessimism about the talks that begin Tuesday in Vienna.

"Right now I say they will have no benefit and will lead nowhere. But of course officials should apply their efforts," he said in the comments.

Meanwhile, Iran continued to present technological achievements in the field of military industry this week. The Commander of the country's Air Defense Forces, Farzad Ismail, said that the missile "Bawer " (Faith) made ​​in Iran, has reached the operational phase of development and that it features more advanced capabilities than the S-300 Russian-made missile system.