Global Security Newswire

The head of Israeli military intelligence has suggested that this could be an auspicious moment for the United States and Iran to begin direct diplomacy over disputed nuclear activities in the Middle Eastern state, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, Nov. 17).

The United States and other Western powers suspect that Iran's atomic work could be geared toward nuclear weapons development, but Tehran contends its goals are purely peaceful. The U.N. Security Council has already enacted three sets of economic penalties aimed at pressuring Iran to halt controversial elements of its nuclear program.

"Dialogue with Iran is not necessarily negative. It it fails, it will lead to the strengthening of sanctions," Haaretz quoted Gen. Amos Yadlin as saying. "Dialogue is not appeasement."

Yadlin added that U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's victory at the polls would strengthen efforts by various countries to oppose Iran's disputed nuclear work.

"Iran will do anything not to be cornered in the position of Iraq or North Korea," Yadlin said, adding that the country "is also very susceptible to international pressure because of the (global financial) crisis" (Agence France-Presse/Google News, Nov. 18).

Israeli President Shimon Peres said that Obama must obtain international consensus on Iran in order for talks to be effective, the London Times reported.

"If the Iranians feel there is a body politic behind (the push for talks) and they cannot just escape by sending [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad to spread quick wisdom, then there is a chance," Peres said.

Peres said for diplomacy to move forward, Iran must end its disputed ballistic missile and nuclear work, stop supporting "terror" and cut its ties to organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah (Richard Beeston, London Times, Nov. 17).