Ambassador Shapiro: US, Israel have similar goals in regard to Iran

American envoy to Israel Dan Shapiro tells radio show "we will demand that real steps be taken."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro 521 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro 521
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro on Monday told Israel Radio's "Good Morning" talk show that Israel and the US have the same goals in regards to Iran's nuclear program.
"I think the two leaders (Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama) agree on the main goal, and that is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons," Shapiro said from New York.
There has been a wide spread debate internally both in Israel and the US as to the appropriate means that must be used to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. While some politicians prefer a military strike, others support diplomatic means.
"Both (Obama and Netanyahu) agree that it's better to solve the issue through diplomatic processes," Shapiro stated.
The ambassador hailed the "unprecedented" cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington for sharing information on Tehran's nuclear program.
Though Shapiro's words seemed to support US Secretary of State John Kerry's optimistic view of a US-Iran deal in the near future, he warned that real steps must be taken before easing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
"What is important is that we will demand that real steps be taken before we embarking in a new direction of economic sanctions," he said.
Shapiro added that these steps would lay the groundwork for a significant agreement to  ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu and Obama were set to meet Monday to discuss regional issues including Syria, Iran and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
Despite Shapiro's assertion that Netanyahu supports diplomatic means to resolve the Iran issue, the premier has been outspoken about his mistrust of the government in Tehran.
He has called on the world not to be fooled by Iran's so-called moderate President Hassan Rouhani who has delivered apparent shifted tones in his overtures directed at the West.