Netanyahu: This is about Iran, not the U.S. election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been urging the Obama administration to take a more aggressive stance against the development of the Iranian nuclear program, said Sunday the “red line” request has nothing to do with the American presidential election.

“What’s guiding me is not the American political calendar, it’s the Iranian nuclear calendar,” Mr. Netanyahu said in an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “People are trying to draw me into the American election, and I’m not going to do that. We cherish our bipartisan support.”

Mr. Netanyahu, who appeared on several of the Sunday news shows, told CNN host Candy Crowley that Iran has nearly enough weapons-grade uranium to produce a nuclear bomb.

“In six months or so, they will be 90 percent of the way there,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

“I think it’s important to place a red line before Iran, and I think that actually reduces the chance of a military conflict because, if they know there’s a point, a stage in the enrichment or other nuclear activities that they cannot cross because they’re face consequences, I think they’ll actually not cross it.”

Asked several times if he had been able to obtain the assurances of a “red line” in a recent phone call with President Obama, Mr. Netanyahu would not answer yes or no, but he repeated his concerns about Iran.

“At this late stage of the game, I think Iran needs to see clarity,” he said.

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