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Itongadol.- Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made clear in Sunday\’s cabinet meeting that he was unimpressed by new Iranian President Hassan Rohani\’s \’moderate" credentials, saying that he too calls Israel the "Great Zionist Satan."
Netanyahu, in his first public reaction to Rohani\’s victory, advised the world not to have any illusions, or to now be enticed to soften sanctions on Iran.
"We are not deluding ourselves," he said. "We need to remember that the Iranian ruler at the outset disqualified candidates who were not in line with his extreme world view, and from among those whom he did allow, the one seen as least identified with the regime was elected. But we are still speaking about someone who calls Israel the \’great Zionist Satan."
Netanyahu said that in any event it was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country\’s Supreme Leader, who determines Iran\’s nuclear policy, and not the country\’s president.
"The more the pressure on Iran increases, the greater the chances of stopping the Iranian nuclear program, which still remains the worlds\’ greatest thereat," Netanyahu said.
In a reference to former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami, who served from 1997- 2005, Netanyahu said he too was considered moderate by the West but did not bring about any change in Iran\’s "aggressive" policies.
"In the last 20 years the only thing that has brought about a temporary freeze of the Iranian nuclear program was Iranian concern in 2003 about an attack against it," Netanyahu said, alluding to fears in Tehran at the time that the US, which had just gone into Iraq, might do the same with Iran as well.
"Iran will be judged by its actions," Netanyahu said. "If continues to stubbornly develop its nuclear program, the answer needs to be clear: stopping its program any way possible."