Peres warns that ‘time is limited’ on tackling Iran by non-military means

President Shimon Peres said on Monday that if Iran is not stopped from developing a nuclear weapon by non-military means, there will be no option except the use of force, and that “time is limited.”

“I appreciate the position of the US, which is trying to organize a coalition of nations to use different measures, if possible without the use of military arms [to stop Iran],” said Peres. “But if they won’t be stopped, we shall have to submit to the use of force.”

Peres, speaking to foreign diplomats at an annual event held before Rosh Hashana, expressed fear that the Iranian situation would bring about some kind of renewed “Cold War” — a possible reference to differences between the West and Russia on the issue — but also spoke hopefully of a cold war that eventually “brings democracy to a new area.”

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Turning to Syria, the president said that President Bashar Assad is “reaching his end.” Peres chided countries that support the Syrian government, saying that they do not support Syria itself but only Assad, and that his fall “will happen sooner than we think.”