Netanyahu: Current US sanctions won’t stop Iran’s nuclear program

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel’s
parliament Monday that the current sanctions against Iran are not going to
stop its nuclear program.

Speaking to the Israeli Knesset’s Defense and Foreign
Affairs Committee, Netanyahu
said stronger sanctions against Iran’s central bank and oil exports are needed to halt its nuclear ambitions.

“As long as there will not be effective sanctions on
Iran’s central bank and oil industry, there won’t be any effect on its nuclear
program,” Netanyahu said, according to Israeli media.

{mosads}Tensions between Iran and the United States remain high as U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen.
Martin Dempsey visits Israel this week. The United States and Israel said Sunday they
were delaying a joint military exercise.

Israel’s vice prime minister accused President Obama of
being hesitant to impose harsh sanctions because of “election-year
considerations” during an
interview with Israel Radio on Sunday.

As Tehran continues to pursue its nuclear program, the United States is
concerned that Israel will launch a strike against Iran. Analysts say the chance for military conflict between Iran and the United States is at its highest point in two
decades.

The United States imposed sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran,
which would bar foreign financial institutions’ access to the U.S. market if
they do business with Iran. But Obama issued a signing statement indicating he may not follow through completely with the sanctions.

Netanyahu’s comments to the Knesset stand in contrast to an
interview he gave to The Weekend Australian magazine in which he said, “For
the first time, I see Iran wobble under the sanctions that have been adopted
and especially under the threat of strong sanctions on their central bank.”

Netanyahu and Obama, who have had a contentious relationship
at times, spoke by phone last week about Iran.