Peres: Iran is most morally corrupt nation on Earth

Speaking with CNN's Richard Quest, Peres says "human rights now should be put in center" of dealing with Iran.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
President Shimon Peres_311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
President Shimon Peres_311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Iran is the most morally corrupt nation on Earth, President Shimon Peres told CNN's Richard Quest on Saturday.
The president said on top of the nuclear danger presented by the Islamic Republic's secretive nuclear program, the issue with Iran is a "matter of values."
Peres accused the regime in Tehran of hanging people without cause, sending arms and money for terror, cheating and lying.
"Human rights, now, should be put in the center," Peres said, responding to a question of Quest's on how the international community should handle the Iranian threat.
Peres said the situation vis a vis the international community's engagement with the Islamic Republic has changed since Europe sanctioned Iranian crude, and the US passed sanctions on Iran's central bank.
Still, Peres said "I would tell the Iranian people, save your own country. It's in your hands."
He added that he "was not calling for a revolution."
Speaking about the peace process, Peres said external support is not necessary for restarting direct negotiations with Palestinian leadership, given the current political situations in the international parties involved in the issue.
Peres said there was a clear rift in the Quartet leadership, noting that one of its members, Russia, has "its own view." He said Europe and the United States are preoccupied with elections.
"They can't be of immediate help," he said, adding the only way to move forward is direct negotiations with the Palestinians.