Iran Supports "Butcher Assad": Netanyahu

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of engaging in subversive activities around the world, including in Latin America, at a joint press conference with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso on Monday.



Humala met Netanyahu after earlier meeting Israel's President Shimon Peres during a three-day visit to Israel.



In the joint press conference with Humala, Netanyahu criticised Iran's nuclear program and said there should be a policy "that requires Iran to stop its aggression, to stop its nuclear military program, and to become a nation among the nations, not a rogue state that arms itself with nuclear weapons."



In respone to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments that he did not think nuclear talks would lead anywhere, Netanyahu said:  "The nuclear talks had indeed already gone somewhere, allowing Iran to escape from sanctions. However, Iran stiil keeps its aggressive attitudes, it supports armed terrorist groups and the regime of the butcher Assad."  



Humala, in his comments, spoke warmly about increasing economic and global cooperation with Israel but steered clear of the Iran issue.



Israel is an observer in the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc comprised of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.



Diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 1947 when Peru supported the plan in the UN General Assembly that led to the partitioning of Palestine between Arabs and Israelis. - Kudüs