The Israeli prime minister said in interviews following his appearance at the United Nations General Assembly this week that he did not rule out engaging in diplomatic contact with Hassan Rouhani.
Having told CNN that he would accept a call from the Iranian president, he was then asked by NPR if he would agree to a meeting. “If I’m offered, I’ll consider it,” said Mr Netanyahu.
However, the hawkish Israeli leader reiterated that nothing less than the comprehensive scrapping of Tehran’s nuclear enrichment scheme would be acceptable to his country.
“The reason they insist on enrichment is because they want to maintain the path to nuclear weapons,” he said, dismissing Iran’s claims the programme is directed at civilian energy production.
Mr Netanyahu also poured cold water on hopes that Mr Rouhani, a relative moderate who last week held a landmark phone conversation with President Barack Obama, could achieve significant reform.
“He is a servant of the regime,” said Mr Netanyahu. » | Jon Swaine, New York | Friday, October 04, 2013
