Israeli Premier: Pressure On Iran Must Continue

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel’s prime minister says the international community must not ease pressure on Iran because of the election of a reformist president.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he believed Iran’s president-elect Hasan Rowhani spoke moderately but backs enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.

The comments came after Russia’s foreign minister was quoted as saying Iran was willing to halt its 20-percent enrichment of uranium, a key concession sought in international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran had no immediate comment.

Israel has hinted at a military strike if diplomacy fails to restrain Iran.

The West believes Iran may seek to make nuclear weapons and has imposed heavy sanctions.

Rowhani has promised a “path of moderation,” including more openness on the nuclear issue, but decisions about matter are not in the president’s hands.