Mofaz calls to step up sanctions, prepare ‘other options’ after Iran talks fail

Vice Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz called on US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to step up sanctions on Iran’s oil industry Wednesday, but prepare for “other options” a day after talks to curb Tehran’s nuclear program broke down in Moscow.

“It is time for the United States and the Western powers to impose more severe sanctions in the oil embargo and financial sectors in order to stop Iran’s nuclear development program,” Mofaz told Clinton, according to statement released by Kadima.

He added that there was a need “to prepare other options,” a seeming reference to military action against the Islamic Republic.

On Tuesday, the latest round of talks between the P5+1 world powers and Iran broke down and EU foriegn policy chief Catherine Ashton announced they would be suspended and replaced by lower level meetings.

Israel has called the meetings an Iranian stalling tactic.

Mofaz is currently visiting Washington, DC, to meet with American officials.

He also discussed with Clinton what he described as the “unique window of opportunity to restart talks with the Palestinians” made possible by the broad coalition established in early May when his Kadima party joined the government.

Mofaz has expressed a desire to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, though a possible summit between the two was pushed off recently.