ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Israel’s foreign minister said on Friday that 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 everything necessary to prevent extremists (in Iran) from succeeding, and will certainly prevent this regime from having a nuclear weapon,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi told reporters during a visit to Cyprus.
Iranian officials say the country will enrich uranium to 60% purity after an attack on its nuclear power plant in Natanz, in the middle of Iran, on Sunday, which blamed Israel.
Askenazi met with the foreign ministers of Cyprus and Greece, Nikos Christodoulides and Nikos Dendias, as well as Anwar Gargash, a top presidential aide in the United Arab Emirates.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates normalized relations in a key agreement last year, and the four countries represented at the meeting on Friday pledged to promote cooperation in defense, energy, tourism and other sectors.