Peres: Iran not an Israeli military target

JERUSALEM, March 8 (UPI) -- Israeli President Shimon Peres says his country will not use military force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

In a published interview, the Israeli leader dismissed talk of a unilateral military operation against the Middle Eastern country to quash its controversial nuclear program, The Jerusalem Post said Saturday.

"I would prefer to stop the development of the atomic bomb without getting thrown into a war," Peres was quoted as saying.

Peres reportedly said the use of sanctions would likely be more effective than military action, citing the success of previous sanctions against South Africa, Libya and North Korea.

The Israeli president did not entirely dismiss the potential threat posed by the Iranian nuclear program, instead choosing to portray the nuclear efforts as a global threat.

"We are not so hasty that we will increase the Iranian threat against Israel," Peres said. "We are talking about a world problem. It is a fact that Iran possesses long-range missiles, which make it not just a problem for Israel."

Iran maintains its nuclear program is solely for peaceful uses.