A nuclear Iran threatens the world, Canadian FM says

Iran’s nuclear program is “the biggest international threat to peace and security,” Canada’s foreign minister said Tuesday amid meetings with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem.

Iran’s statements about what it would do with such a weapon are more than worrying, John Baird said. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized Tehran’s recent moves toward further developing its nuclear program. The brief statements were given before the official meeting between the two.

Canada is a great ally of Israel, and it sticks to its moral values even when most of the world does the opposite, Netanyahu stated, thanking Baird for the ongoing support provided by Ottawa.

“The events of the last few days make it very clear how dangerous the world becomes when you have a rogue state that defies all international rules and norms and gets its hands on nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said of Iran.

“Particularly when they’ve been very, very clear as to what they would like to use them for,” Baird said, alluding to Tehran’s ongoing threats to target Israel and wipe it off the map.

Behind closed doors, Netanyahu and Baird discussed the ongoing Syrian civil war, the need for a positive relationship between Israel and Turkey, and Iran’s ongoing striving to obtain nuclear weapons, a press release said.

Netanyahu and Baird agreed to strengthen the technological and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Energy development, entrepreneurship, and international aid and development were discussed, and the two agreed such steps were only the start of what should be a strategic partnership agreement between Israel and Canada.

Earlier in the day President Shimon Peres met with Baird, and the two talked about the Jewish communities in Canada and negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. “I hope Canada can once again play a role in the peace process,” Peres said.

The president thanked Baird for an “outstanding friendship” between the countries, “based not only on interests but on profound values.”