Israel calls for time-limit on Iran talks

JERUSALEM, May 7 (UPI) -- Israel's foreign minister says talks with Iran should come with a time-limit to prevent the Iranians from stalling to advance their nuclear program.

Avigdor Lieberman said during his first official trip to Europe that any future discussions with the Islamic Republic should be ended after three months if it is clear there is no concrete progress being made.

The Hill said Lieberman discussed the idea during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"It is important that the dialogue with Iran be limited in duration and that if after three months it will be clear that the Iranians are playing for time and not ceasing their nuclear program, then the international community will have to take practical measures," Lieberman said in a release issued Wednesday by the foreign ministry.

Israel's alarm over Iran's suspicious nuclear program has become a thorny issue for U..S. President Obama, who is urging talks aimed at halting the development of an Iranian bomb and convincing Israel to back away from the idea of a pre-emptive strike against Iran.