There is no current justification for an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said in an interview to NBC published on Thursday, adding that the international community still has time to pressure Tehran through sanctions and diplomatic channels.
Cameron's comments to NBC came following remarks made by an aide to Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who said that Iran would be willing to be more transparent about its nuclear activities in exchange for more "cooperation" with the West.
However, referring to the prospect of an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, Mohammad Javad Larijani said: "Here I want to copy the wording of [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama," Larijani said, adding: "Every possibility is on the table."
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to objections voiced by such western leaders as U.S. President Barack Obama to Israeli action on Iran, saying that Israel had disregarded American warnings in the past.
Speaking to NBC's Brian Williams, Cameron reiterated his opposition to an Israeli strike, saying that he didn't "think as we stand today that military action by Israel would be justified."
I don't think the Israelis should take that action now. We told them they shouldn't and said we wouldn't support it if they did. We've been very clear," Cameron said.
"It's very, very important [Israel] knows it has strong allies like America, like the United Kingdom, but I don't support action now because, frankly, we've got more road to run in putting in place sanctions and putting in place tough measures against the regime and saying to them they need to take a different path," Cameron added.
The U.K. PM added that Iran could retain "civil nuclear power, if they give up the ambition of having military nuclear power, they can have a future as a country that has more normal relations with the rest of the world," adding: "We need to keep up the pressure to encourage them to make the right choice."
"I think there is a lot more we can do to put pressure on Iran to get them to take a different path. We take nothing off the table. Britain is very clear just as America is. We don't rule out taking action or supporting being a, but that's not where we are right now. Right now, turn up the pressure. Get Iranians to think again," he said.
Cameron also said he "completely" understood why Israel felt as strongly about the issue as it dud, adding that he too did "not want to see an Iran with a nuclear weapon."
"This is, of course, about Israel and the Middle East because in Iranian nuclear weapon would meet a state of a city that wants to wipe Israel off the map. Countries that don't have nuclear weapons would want to acquire them. This is about our own security. There are risks that Iran would have the capabilities to attack further. I'm quite clear this is in our interest that Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon. That's why with allies, we are piling on the pressure. We always work together, always will," he added.