Netanyahu: Obama’s Sanctions Haven’t Stopped Iran By “One Iota”

With Romney by his side, the Israeli Prime Minster deals a blow to President Barack Obama, saying sanctions aren’t stopping Iran from pursuing a bomb.

Image by JASON REED / Reuters

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that sanctions against Iran — largely pushed by President Barack Obama — have failed to stop that country’s nuclear program.

Speaking with presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney at his side, Netanyahu said a “strong and credible military threat” was needed on top of the sanctions to get Iran to make a change.

“I think it’s important to do everything in our power to prevent the Ayatollahs from possessing that capability,” Netanyahu said. “We have to be honest and say that all the sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota. And that’s why I believe that we need a strong and credible military threat coupled with the sanctions to have a chance to change that situation.”

Romney’s campaign outlined a nearly identical position earlier in the day, criticizing those who call the talk of military action irresponsible as making peace less likely.

Obama has claimed to have put in place the “toughest sanctions yet” on Iran, but — at least according to Netanyahu — they haven’t worked.