Danny Gillerman
Photo: AP
Calling his bluff. Ahmadinejad
Photo: AP
Gillerman: Iranian game over
Israel’s ambassador to U.N. says regarding decision to refer Iran to Security Council over suspicions it may want nuclear arms ‘finally the international community has decided to expose the Iranian bluff’; says Iran will now be isolated, forced to comply
WASHINGTON – Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Gillerman said Saturday regarding the decision to refer Iran to the Security Council over suspicions it may want nuclear arms “finally the international community has decided to expose the Iranian bluff.”
“Now begins the phase in which the international community will introduce a series of steps to isolate Iran and force it to comply,” Gillerman said.
Security Council
News Agencies
U.N. Nuclear watchdog agency refers Iran to U.N. Security Council over suspicions it might want nuclear arms; Iranian President Ahmadinejad orders Iran's nuclear organization to end snap U.N. checks from Sunday in reaction decision
In an interview with Ynet Gillerman said “this decision symbolizes the end of the game for Iran. Iran has fooled the international community for a long time. Now it is clear to everyone that Iran is determined to obtain nuclear weapons. This and the crazy remarks made by the Iranian president (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) have brought the current situation about.”
No far-reaching decisions on the matter are expected in February, as diplomatic efforts will be exhausted in accordance with a compromise reached between the European countries, the U.S. and Russia.
However, U.N. diplomats said they are not ruling out the possibility that some surprises may arise, especially in light of the fact that John Bolton, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., is currently serving as president of the Security Council; Bolton spent Bush's first term serving as undersecretary of state for arms control and disarmament, and he has proven in the past that he does not play according to the rules.
“Once the matter is refereed to the Security Council, anything is possible,” Gillerman continued.
"It is not as though there is a decision that nothing will happen in February. A harsh report was submitted to the Council, stating that Iran did not uphold its commitments and continues to arm itself. The question is what the Council will do with such a report.
'Iran poses immediate threat'
Israeli diplomats in the U.N. said they are not concerned over the reference to a nuke-free Middle East in the report.
“This is not a dramatic development, as Israel also favors a Middle East clean of nuclear weapons, when no threat will exist,” Gillerman said.
“The Iranian issue is what the U.N. is dealing with. The message is clear: Iran poses an immediate and terrifying global threat and it is good that the world has come to its senses.”
