The Washington Post 08.11.2013
JERUSALEM — Saying the United States and the world are being misled by a false face into thinking that Iran has a more moderate leader, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday charged that Iran is not only continuing its nuclear program but has accelerated its quest to build a bomb in the weeks since voters there elected Hassan Rouhani president.
Calling Rouhani “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Netanyahu told U.S. lawmakers at a meeting here that he is aware that some have placed their hopes in the new Iranian president. But the Israeli leader warned: “He knows how to exploit this, and yesterday he called for more talks. Of course he wants more talks. He wants to talk and talk and talk. And while everybody is busy talking to him, he’ll be busy enriching uranium. The centrifuges will keep on spinning.”
In his first news conference since taking office, Rouhani said Tuesday that he is willing to participate in nuclear negotiations with the international community but stopped short of saying he would engage in direct talks with the United States.
Israel’s leadership has declared Iran’s uranium-enrichment program an “existential threat,” and Netanyahu has sought assurances from the Obama administration that it would confront Iran, militarily if necessary. “Iran’s work and quest towards the achievement of atomic weapons not only continues, it continues unabated — it’s actually accelerated,” Netanyahu said.
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