A peaceful solution must be found to the Iranian nuclear problem despite its leader's vow to wipe Israel off the map, Israeli deputy premier Shimon Peres said today.
Israel has called Iran an "existential threat" and refuses to rule out pre-emptive strikes as a last-ditch means of curbing the nuclear programme that Tehran insists is peaceful, but Israeli leaders have been increasingly adopting a softer public tone.
"I wouldn't like to darken the future with belligerent declarations," Mr Peres said at a news conference when asked about the possibility of a pre-emptive strike. "I do hope that the problem can be solved economically, politically and psychologically."
Israeli deputy premier Shimon Peres
Mr Peres also reiterated Israel's long-held policy of "strategic ambiguity" about whether it has nuclear weapons, which is meant to deter potential Arab and Islamic foes, including Iran.
Israel is widely believed to have the Mideast's only nuclear arsenal, but Mr Peres said the only thing his nation has ever declared is that it will not be the first in the region to use nuclear weapons despite the many threats against it.
"We've learned that suspicion is enough. We don't need anything else," he added.
Mr Peres is in Tokyo for a four-nation meeting tomorrow about Mideast peace that includes officials from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and host Japan.
Mr Peres said he felt hopeful that peace in the region could be achieved but that the divisive nature of the coalition government that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is putting together could make talks tough.