Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday dismissed a charm offensive by Iran’s new President as a ruse concocted by a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, and declared that Israel was ready to stand alone to deny Tehran an atomic weapon.

In a combative address to the UN General Assembly, Netanyahu spoke harshly about Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s new, centrist president who has made diplomatic overtures to the United States and spoke by telephone last week with President Barack Obama.

“Rouhani doesn’t sound like Ahmadinejad,” Netanyahu said, referring to Rouhani’s hardline predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“But when it comes to Iran’s nuclear weapons programme, the only difference between them is this: Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf’s clothing, Rouhani is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a wolf who thinks he can pull the wool over the eyes of the international community,” Netanyahu added.

Netanyahu’s address reflected Israeli worries that the emerging signs of what could become a US-Iranian rapprochement might lead to a premature easing of international pressure designed to deny Tehran the means to make a bomb.

“Don’t let up the pressure,” Netanyahu said, adding that the only deal that could be made with Rouhani was one that “fully dismantles Iran’s nuclear weapons programme.”

The United States, Israel and other countries accuse Iran of using its nuclear programme to try to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says the programme is for peaceful energy purposes only.

“I want there to be no confusion on this point. Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons.

“If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone. Yet in standing alone, Israel will know that we will be defending many, many others,” Netanyahu said.

Rouhani led an Iranian charm offensive at the world forum last week, with long-term adversaries Iran and the United States now preparing for renewed nuclear talks.

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