Israel's ambassador to UN: Keep pressure until Iran plays by rules

Ambassador Ron Prosor addresses Security Council, noting pressure on Iran is effective, any partial deal will ruin efforts; says Syria cannot be trusted with arms disarmament, Palestinian leadership must educate for peace, coexistence

Yitzhak Benhorin|Published: 10.22.13 , 20:35

WASHINGTON – Israeli Ambassador to United Nations Ron Prosor addressed the UN Security Council Tuesday, as nuclear talks with Iran make progress and the question of easing economic sanctions on Tehran is on the table.

Speaking at the UNSC’s Open Debate on "The Situation in the Middle East", Prosor warned that Iran is continuing its steady march towards developing nuclear weapons, while stressing that Iranian President Hassan Rohani "is like the Emperor with new clothes – cloaking himself as a moderate when in fact Iranian radicalism remains clear to the naked eye."

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The ambassador explained that while there are 17 different countries peacefully producing nuclear energy without uranium enrichment, Iran continues insisting on the matter: "Make no mistake – the Iranian program is not for peaceful purposes… When negotiating with Iran, the international community must – as Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu said – distrust, dismantle and verify."

In regards to the possible easing of economic sanctions on Tehran, Prosor said: "The Iranian economy is crumbling under the weight of crippling sanctions. And this pressure is getting results. (Iran) reminds me of a boxer who is clinging to the ropes in the final round. Give him a moment to rest and he will turn around and attack you with more vigor. We must keep up the pressure until Iran agrees to play by the rules."

Furthermore, he stressed: "Any sort of partial deal will be completely ineffective in containing the Iranian threat."

The Israeli Ambassador also addressed the issue of the Syrian regime's use of chemical weapons and its talks of destroying its chemical stockpiles, saying that "we cannot trust that a regime that lies in bed with Iran and Hezbollah isn’t lying when it commits itself to eliminating its deadly arsenal. Together, Iran, Syria and Hezbollah form the 'trio of terror'. This trio is intent on acquiring the ABCs of terrorism – Atomic, Biological, and Chemical weapons – so it can more effectively murder innocent men, women and children."

Prosor points his finger towards the international society in regards to President Bashar Assad's regime, noting that "when we warned the world about Assad's chemical arsenal, we were told, 'Don't worry, he won't use chemical weapons because it's not rational'…it turns out you can't apply rational thinking to irrational actors."

Finally, Ambassador Prosor discussed the ongoing incitement within the Palestinian society, noting "the time has come for the Palestinian leadership to clearly and unequivocally condemn violence and terrorism. The time has come to stop poisoning the minds of Palestinian children. The time has come to start teaching tolerance, mutual respect, and coexistence. After all, the next peace agreement depends on the next generation wanting peace."

Prosor's speech comes after a round of talks between Iran and six world powers – Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United States – set to resume negotiations to try to find a solution to the nuclear issue, in which Iran has put forward a new proposal to resolve the nuclear crisis that includes a freeze on production of 20% enriched uranium in return to the lifting of sanctions.