Iran nuclear threat: Netanyahu goes to the people - the American people, that is

"The boldness and foolishness of Israeli officials in threatening the Islamic Republic, have put Israeli citizens one step away from the cemetery," said Yahya Rahim-Safavi. "If, one day, the Israeli regime takes action against us, resistance groups, especially Hezbollah ... will respond more easily."

The following day, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Deputy Commander Hussein Salami implied broader action, including against the United States, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported.

"In case of any act of aggression against Iran, we will take war inside the enemies' borders and will defeat them heavily," said Mr. Salami of the Revolutionary Guards, echoing a recent threat from Iranian proxy Hezbollah that it would retaliate against US targets in the Middle East in the event of an Israeli strike.

After a flurry of Israeli threats to strike Iran imminently, the rhetoric has quieted somewhat. A top aide to Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who has reportedly cooled to the idea of a unilateral strike, said this weekend that an attack would be unlikely during the Jewish High Holidays, which begin today and run for three weeks.

But Netanyahu, by most reports, remains genuinely anxious about the Iran nuclear program.

“They’re in the red zone,” Netanyahu said in an interview on NBC News “Meet the Press,” according to Bloomberg. “You know, they’re in the last 20 yards. And you can’t let them cross that goal line. You can’t let them score a touchdown.”

In the same interview, he said a policy of containment such as the US had with the Soviet Union was unfeasible because Iran's leadership is different.  

"I think Iran is very different, they put their zealotry over their survival – they have suicide bombers all over the place," he said. "I wouldn’t rely on their rationality."

Netanyahu’s interviews today appear to be part of a push to get the US to agree to “red lines” for Iran.

As Israelis prepare to celebrate the Jewish new year tomorrow, the traditional prayers include an admission of guilt. When Netanyahu was asked by the Jerusalem Post about what he needs to ask forgiveness for, he said that on the national level his main regret of the past year was that “we have not yet stopped Iran.”

“We have done a lot, but we have not yet achieved that goal,” said the prime minister. “When you interview me next year, I hope I can give you a different answer.”

Previous

1 | 2