Israeli leaders warn about Iran in Herzliya Conference

The Herzliya Conference on international security held this week at the Interdisciplinary Center mainly focused on the threat posed by Iran, with several Israeli leaders stressing the danger the Islamic Republic poses to the entire world and the need to act while there is still time to confront the threat. Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave an address on Thursday which included an implicit warning that “If sanctions don’t achieve the desired goal of stopping [Iran’s] military nuclear program, there will be a need to consider taking (military) action,” adding the caveat that he was afraid Iran is nearing a stage “which may render any physical strike as impractical. A nuclear Iran will be more complicated to deal with, more dangerous and more costly in blood than if it were stopped today. In other words, he who says in English ‘later’ may find that ‘later is too late.’”

For a report on “Key Official US and IAEA Statements About Iran’s Nuclear Programs” click HERE (PDF)

Barak’s words echoed remarks earlier in the day by Vice Premier Moshe Ya’alon, who declared that Iran needed to be stopped “one way or another” and that “from my military experience, human beings will know how to penetrate any installation protected by other human beings. Ultimately all the facilities can be hit.”

“A combination of tools are available to the West,” Yaalon said. “That combination must include diplomatic isolation of the regime; the second tool is economic sanctions ... and the last thing is a credible military option.”

“We need a credible military option. The Iranians understand the West has capabilities, but as long as the Iranians don’t think that the West has the political stomach and determination to use it they will not stop,” Ya’alon said. “Currently they don’t think that the world is determined.”

Earlier in the day, OC Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi gave an address outlining Israel’s assessment of the timeline Israel was facing, including information indicating Iran already posseses sufficient fissile material to produce four nuclear weapons.

“Iran’s motivations are: to create hegemony in the region; deterrence; and to become an international player,” Kochavi said. “They claim that they are developing the program for peaceful purposes but our intelligence shows without a doubt that Iran is continuing its work on developing a nuclear weapon.”

To read more of Maj. General Aviv Kochavi’s remarks, click HERE

In related news, the central banks of UAE and Qatar have informed private banks under their jurisdiction to discontinue financing of trade with Iran, tightening the financial noose around Teheran which is already tight following several rounds of economic sanctions by the UN and Western countries.

"Banks in Dubai were asked by the UAE central bank to stop issuing letters of credit to finance trade with Iran. Before the sanctions, the central bank regularly checked on trading with Iran and wanted to know of all dealings between the two countries," said a Dubai-based banker active in trade financing. "Banks can't do this anymore."

Elsewhere, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was in Beijing on Thursday, where she urged Chinese lawmakers to persuade Iran to be more "open and transparent" about its renegade nuclear program.

"I will advocate that if Europe imposes sanctions [on Iran], China should still use its influence to tell Iran that we do not need and cannot allow another power to have nuclear weapons," Merkel said.