Netanyahu doubts Iran will end nuke plans

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, May 18 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed skepticism Friday that Iran would agree to end its nuclear program.

Speaking in Prague, Netanyahu called the matter "the paramount issue of our time," Arutz Sheva reported.

Netanyahu didn't offer any ultimatums but Israeli officials previously said the window for negotiating a resolution and avoiding military action is closing.

"I see no evidence whatsoever that Iran is ready to end its nuclear program," Netanyahu said in Prague, Czech Republic, just days before another round of nuclear talks with Tehran begins.

The P5+1 countries -- China, the United States, Britain, Russia and France (the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council), plus Germany -- are to meet with Iranian negotiators Wednesday in Baghdad.

Netanyahu's government has maintained that a nuclear armed Iran threatens Israel's survival.

Western leaders and organizations have imposed sanctions against Iran and its leaders to try to pressure the Islamic republic into abandoning its nuclear program. Western officials say they believe Iran is pursuing development of nuclear weapons while Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro indicated this Iran had a very short window in which to agree to a diplomatic solution.

"It would be preferable to resolve this diplomatically and through the use of pressure [rather] than the use of military force," Shapiro said during a speech in Tel Aviv. "But that doesn't mean that option is not fully available -- not just available, but it's ready. The necessary planning has been done to ensure that it's ready."