ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Israel’s Foreign Minister on Friday said his country was determined to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon after Tehran promised to step up its uranium enrichment process.
“We will do whatever it takes to prevent the extremists (in Iran) from succeeding, and will certainly prevent this regime from having a nuclear weapon,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi told reporters on a visit to Cyprus.
Iranian officials say the country will begin enriching uranium to 60% purity after an attack on its nuclear facility at Natanz, in central Iran, on Sunday, which it blamed on Israel.
Askenazi met with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and Greece, Nikos Christodoulides and Nikos Dendias, and with Anwar Gargash, a top presidential assistant in the United Arab Emirates.
Israel and the UAE normalized relations in a groundbreaking deal last year, and the four countries represented at the meeting on Friday pledged to boost cooperation in defense, energy, tourism and other sectors.