The United States asked Russia to send Iran a message that the upcoming
round of nuclear talks is its last chance to avoid a military
confrontation this year, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported Wednesday according to a diplomatic source.
The
unusually stark warning by the US was passed on by Secretary of State
Hilary Clinton to her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, after the two
met in New York on Monday, the diplomatic source told the Russian
newspaper.
The source said pressure from Jerusalem on Washington
was forcing the latter to support a military option within the year in
order to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.
"The invasion will happen before the year's end," the source told Kommersant.
"The Israelis are, in effect, blackmailing Obama: either he supports
the war, or he risks losing the support [of the Jewish lobby]" the year
of US presidential elections.
Israel and the US have said all
options are on the table for dealing with Iran's nuclear program, though
both countries have highlighted the importance of seeking a diplomatic
solution before any military option is considered.
Iran insists
its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though diplomats in the
UN's nuclear watchdog say recent intelligence indicates otherwise.
On Tuesday, Iran rejected claims
that it was attempting to clean up radioactive traces possibly left
over from covert nuclear work at its Parachin military site.
The
P5+1 - a group of Iran mediators that includes the permanent UN
Security Council members and Germany - received a letter earlier this
month from Tehran which indicated that Iran sought to resume
international discussions at the earliest opportunity.
The
diplomatic source said talks between Tehran and the international group
will take place in April, when the P5+1 wants Iran to clarify details
surrounding its nuclear program.
The US wants Tehran to
understand that these talks represent the Islamic Republic's last chance
to avoid a military confrontation with the West over its nuclear
program, according to the report.