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Israeli PM calls for 'red line' on Iran's nuclear program

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    Reaction from Rep. Adam Smith

  • Duration 4:14
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Israel's prime minister taking to the American airwaves over the weekend warning that he believes Iran may be just months away.

From the ability to produce an atomic bomb that's far shorter.

Then most previous estimates.

-- -- continuing to claim it's only building nuclear power for peaceful purposes of course but still.

The prime minister again calling on the US to drop a red line for two run.

You wrong has been -- with some clear red lines on a few matters.

And they've avoided crossing them so I think that is we get closer and closer and closer.

To the achievement of weapons grade material -- -- sorts once away from being about 90% of having -- enrich uranium for an atom ball.

I think that you have to place that -- line before them now.

Before it's it's too late.

Well what does this mean for the US senate showdown with the Ron joining me now democratic congressman Adam Smith from Washington.

The ranking member on the house armed services committee congressman welcome.

-- -- -- The prime minister asked the White House initially firm meeting I know that he had an hour -- phone call it's been reported with President Obama do you think the White House is doing enough.

To support Israel in its now new concern that Iran is further along than previously thought.

-- Absolutely working very very closely with the Israelis -- -- in Israel last summer I've been -- many times both by Israelis visiting DC and by US officials.

We both see this as a huge threat certainly to the security of Israel Middle East -- is security of the world stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapons of very high priority.

-- working closely with Israel to try to make sure that we do that we we do still give Israel three billion dollars in military eighty year.

So it's a very tight relationship but we're trying to figure out how to deal with what is a very difficult problem.

In reading the papers in Israel today including the Jerusalem Post which I I looked at rather carefully to see what the Israeli reaction is it sounds to me it looks that way.

Like the Israelis -- looking for more clarity from our white house on what we would be willing to do.

What is your are your gas.

On what really is on the table for this White House.

I think it's you know it's problematic.

To to create red lines or whatever you want to call them.

You don't want to tell your adversary here is exactly what we're going to do if you do this.

It limits your flexibility.

Tells the other side exactly what your plans are.

But the president has said clearly we will not allow Iran to develop -- nuclear weapon and all options including military strikes are on the table.

-- the difficulty as they they are enriching uranium.

Up Q I think almost 20% now there is a line that you have to step across to begin enriching it beyond that to get up to weapons grade and once they step across that line.

You know estimates I've heard estimates ranging from four months to a year before they could get enough uranium to make -- -- -- that that doesn't give them a bomb.

But that that is aligned if they cross we can see it and then we know -- in a more dangerous spot.

You've got a few more months after that if you really don't wanna tell an adversary here -- exactly our plants we have to keep up the sanctions pressure.

Have to build international support.

We have to work very closely with Israel to make sure that all options are on the table.

And we have the best military plan if it comes of that and hit it since he's looking really good plan on that front.

And I appreciate that all options -- on the table congress and that's interesting to hear you say that we shouldn't be giving out that information when the White House has told Afghanistan and all the bad guys there when we're actually gonna have our troops leave.

That is not very dangerous fluctuation.

Yeah that's not that's not accurate description what's going on in Afghanistan.

We've -- -- a long time we're drawing down we have said we're going to keep.

Counterterrorism forces and keep a close alliance with Afghanistan but -- set a goal towards drawing down so that the Afghan government -- the Afghan military.

Can be ready for that transitions I don't think that comparison -- at all.

Well -- can only asking I report our our folks decide thank you so much for your thoughts today congressman great to see you.

Thank you.

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