Lieberman: Not the time for military action against Iran

Economic sanctions, not military actions, are the right tools to deal with Iran right now, Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Monday evening in an interview with Israel Radio's Persian language channel.

"I don't think that a military solution is the right way to go at this point," Lieberman said in response to a question regarding Israeli action against Iran... The most effective way to stop the Iranian nuclear program is through economic sanctions. This was the case in Libya and Korea," he stated

"Unfortunately however, those who will pay the price (of sanctions) are the Iranian people. Already their gasoline is being rationed and there is inflation and unemployment. All the major banks in Iran are on the verge of bankruptcy," he said.

"I hope that the extremist leadership of (Iranian President) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be replaced by a leadership that cares about the Iranian people," he added.

Lieberman, who answered questions put to him by Iranian listeners, said he hoped that relations between Iran and Israel would eventually return to the level of cordiality that existed prior to the Islamic revolution in 1979.

"I hope that the current leadership is a passing phase and that the two nations will return to be as they were. We want to cooperate with Iranians, in contrast to Ahmadinejad, who wants to wipe Israel off the map," he said. 

"We don't want to hurt or harm the Iranian people. We want peace, and financial and cultural cooperation. The current Iranian regime is bunch of criminals, a group that endangers the peace in Iran and world peace."

"The Iranian leadership is set. They hold sums of money in foreign bank accounts. The Iranian population is comprised of good and serious people. We have had a good history and good experiences with them. They are those who need to exert pressure on the leadership," he added.

"The Iranian leadership is not investing money in healthcare, education or the creation of jobs, but rather investing in world terror and Hizbullah. Therefore, I suggest to citizens of Iran that next time they go vote, they think hard who they are voting for," he told listeners.