BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said although Iran has a new president, the Tehran regime remains committed to developing nuclear weapons with the aim of threatening Israel’s existence.

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu warned that “The president of Iran may have changed but the aims of the regime there have not.” Netanyahu explained that “Iran’s intention is to develop a nuclear capability and nuclear weapons, with the aim of destroying the state of Israel.” Netanyahu pointed to Rowhani’s comment on Friday at Iran’s Quds Day proceedings that Israel is “a wound on the body of the Muslim world” as evidence of his intentions. Iranian media denied that Rowhani had added that Israel “must be removed.”

Newly elected Iranian president Hassan Rowhani, considered by some as a moderate, officially took office over the weekend following a ceremony at the country’s parliament in Tehran. In a speech to the assembly, Rowhani said that the “people have voted for moderation.” Addressing the international community, he said “The only way for interaction with Iran is dialogue on an equal footing, confidence-building and mutual respect.” Rowhani asked, “If you want the right response, don’t speak with Iran in the language of sanctions, speak in the language of respect.” Last week the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a new set of sanctions on Iranian oil.

Within hours, the White House issued a statement saying Rowhani’s election “presents an opportunity for Iran to act quickly to resolve the international community’s deep concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme” and that should Iran choose to engage “it will find a willing partner in the United States.” The latest quarterly report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in May revealed that Iran is continuing to increase its stockpile of twenty percent enriched uranium, considered just a small step away from weapons grade quality material.