BIDEN: BARACK OBAMA NOT BLUFFING ON IRAN STRIKE

         Washington, 23 Rabiul Akhir 1434 H/5 March 2013 (MINA) – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Monday doubled down on the administration’s threat to use military force on Iran, saying that Washington will not back down from using a military option to stop Iran’s nuclear energy program.

        “We are not looking for war,” the vice president said during the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, according to Press TV reports monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), Tuesday.

        Biden said that the administration is ready and willing “to negotiate peacefully, but all options — including military force — are on the table.”

       “Big nations can’t bluff and presidents of the United States cannot and do not bluff and President Barack Obama is not bluffing,” Biden declared.

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        Biden also reiterated the United States’ “deep commitment” to the security of Israel, which he said “has not changed” and “will not change.”

       “It’s in our naked self-interest beyond the moral imperative,” Biden said.

        The vice president said Obama would outline in “much greater detail” his agenda with regard to Israel when he visits Tel Aviv.

         AIPAC is one of the most powerful lobby groups in Washington and is the most powerful pro-Israel lobby group in the country. 
         The U.S. threat came once again after Iran and the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany) wrapped up their latest talks in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on February 27. Both sides have held several meetings mainly over Tehran’s nuclear energy program. 

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         The U.S., Israel and their allies say Tehran may intend to use its nuclear capability to produce atomic bombs, a claim Iran rejects. Tehran insists its program is completely peaceful.

         Iran has warned that it makes no distinction between U.S. and Israeli interests and will retaliate against both if attacked.(T/P05/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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