Israel, U.S. lock horns over "red lines" for Iran nuclear program

JERUSALEM, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late on Sunday said that Israel and the United States are engaged in discussions aimed at establishing red lines that could potentially deter Iran from continuing its nuclear program.

"It is important to realize that Iran will not stop unless it sees a clear red line," Netanyahu said in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

"I don't think that they see a clear red line, and I think the sooner we establish one, the greater the chances that there won't be a need for other types of action," he said.

The comments came amid recent reports of deepening divisions between Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama over the urgency of military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.

Israel has been seeking for some time to secure a clear public statement by Obama regarding the Washington's red lines for Tehran that, if crossed, may lead to an attack, with Netanyahu holding that these red lines are the only way to avoid an armed conflict.

Asked by CBC to assess the kind of red lines the United States may eventually draw, Netanyahu said Israel hopes and expects more than harsher sanctions or diplomatic measures to pressure Iran.

Netanyahu's Monday interview with CBC followed Canada's dramatic announcement on Friday of a decision to sever diplomatic ties with Iran, ordering its diplomats to leave Ottawa in five days and shutting down its embassy in Tehran. Enditem

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