Carr to Lieberman: Don’t attack Iran

NEWLY appointed Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr told his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman it was “not in Israel’s interests” to attack Iran when the two spoke on the phone last week.

Carr revealed the conversation during an interview with the ABC’s Lateline last Thursday, in which he also said he agreed with United States President Barack Obama that a nuclear Iran was ­unacceptable and that containment was not an option.

Insisting he was particularly concerned about an Israeli strike, Carr said a military operation was still only a “hypotheitical solution”.

“Our position is very clear – we counsel Israel against taking military action apart from any other consideration. It is not in the interest of Israel,” he said.

“I said that to the Israeli Foreign Minister when I spoke to him last week.

The former NSW premier said sanctions against Tehran, which is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, were taking their toll and needed more time, but all options were on the table.

“We’re encouraged, but not terribly optimistic, about some signs of a reawakened interest in negotiations. We think sanctions and negotiations still contain promise,” he said.

“The sanctions are having a clear economic effect, a damaging economic effect, and there is some evidence, not to be overstated, that that’s had the effect of a revival of interest in Tehran in a negotiated settlement with the Five Plus One grouping [Permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany].”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Philip Chester said he doubted “anyone was in a position” to say sanctions were working.

“Ultimately the call made by Israel and the US will depend on how they see the security conditions,” he said.

“Everyone’s being very careful and I think that’s right – you’ve got to be certain before you make the call.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein welcomed Carr’s words.

“The important, positive point is that our Foreign Minister endorses the unequivocal view of President Obama that to safeguard profound regional and global interests, Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons and that, in order to achieve this, the effectiveness of increasingly severe sanctions and possible imminent negotiations – the preferred strategy of all parties including Israel – will be greatly enhanced by keeping all options, including the use of force, squarely on the table,” he said.

GARETH NARUNSKY

Foreign Minister Bob Carr.