'Israel must come to terms with nuclear Iran'

Dubai: In a rare departure from his pro-Israeli rhetoric, the US Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate, Joseph Biden, was quoted in the Israeli press on Monday as telling senior Israeli officials behind closed doors that the Jewish state would have to reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran.

The Army Radio, without naming a source, also quoted Biden as saying that he opposed "opening an additional military and diplomatic front."

Biden's statement shocked Israeli officials present at the meeting, Israeli Army Radio reported.

"Israel will have to reconcile itself with the nuclearisation of Iran," Army Radio quoted Biden as telling the unnamed officials. Biden added he was doubtful whether economic sanctions would be effective in coercing Iran into stopping nuclear proliferation.

Biden, who famously promoted himself as a Zionist in an interview last year with Jewish American Shalom TV, views Israel as a strategic ally in the Middle East, which is why his comments come as a surprise to the entire region.

Apparent 'groundwork'

"Biden's statement seems like the groundwork for a major deal with Iran," Dr Mustafa Alani, Director of Security Studies at the Gulf Research Centre, told Gulf News.

Dr Alani says although Biden's statements come as a departure from US President George W. Bush's aim of zero enrichment of Iran's nuclear power facilities, the statement itself was not controversial.

"His statements fall in line with Article 4 of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, allowing enrichment for civilian use," Dr Alani explained.

Israeli's of course will reject Biden's statements, as they view Iran as their biggest threat to security.

The only way Israel will accept any nuclear enrichment by Iran will be under a larger negotiated security deal between the US and Iran, including freezing financial support to Hezbollah and exchanging ambassadors, Dr Alani explained.

"The Democrats have indicated they will try to reach a deal with Iran, but this can only be achieved if Israel's larger security interest is protected," he said.

He added that no deal with Iran could be reached without accepting Iran's right to nuclear enrichment.

Biden's statement seems like the groundwork for a major deal with Iran."