US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said the United States would never allow a second holocaust in an interview with Israeli TV today about Iran's nuclear program. McCain said however that diplomatic options had not been exhausted and further sanctions might compel Iran to halt its nuclear drive, which Israel and the West believe is aimed at developing atomic weapons.
"I think that we Americans joining with our European allies can impose significant and very impactful sanctions on Iran which I think could modify their behaviour,'' Mr McCain said. "I would hope that we could succeed in that direction and I have some optimism we can, but I have to look you in the eye and tell you that the United States of America can never allow a second holocaust.''
Israel considers Iran its main strategic threat, both because of the nuclear program and repeated statements from Iranian leaders predicting the demise of the Jewish state.
The interview came days before McCain's Democrat opponent Barack Obama was due to arrive in Israel on a world tour aimed at shoring up his foreign policy credentials vis-a-vis McCain, a veteran US Senator and war hero. |