We are joined now by Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Dr. Michael Leiter. Good morning and welcome back to the program.
DR. MICHAEL LEITER: Good morning, Margaret, good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Israel and the US have been lockstep in this war to date. You heard the vice president sort of leave the door open to diplomacy, but President Trump also said this morning, the US is locked and loaded for an appropriate moment. Is it your understanding that Israel and the US will hold fire until the end of this two week ceasefire?
MICHAEL LEITER: We have to remember that the President has been relentless in pursuing an end to this crisis through talks. That’s the talks preceded the June war, talks preceded epic fury, the talks are going on now, and I think that if we can conclude this crisis with Iran, with this regime, this tyrannical regime, that’s pursuing nuclear weapons without going back into kinetic activity, it would probably be best for everyone. The president continues to pursue that. But right now they saw face to face, the vice president sat opposite this fellow, Qalibaf, who is directly responsible for the murder of his own people just in January, this past January, and just saw how obdurate and obstinate they are in pursuit of nuclear weapons.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When you said the talks are still going on, are there – is there any level of US-Iran contact at this point?
MICHAEL LEITER: Well, you know, the President gave the issue two weeks, and we’re just into the end of the first week, so there is another week left for the potential for continued talks. We, we know the Iranians. We know this regime. We don’t think they’re going anywhere, but it’s important to give it a chance.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Vance said, we need to see Iran give affirmative commitment to not seek a nuclear weapon, or the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon. Is your understanding that the US position is zero enrichment or are they still leaving the door open that Iran could have a civil-civilian nuclear program for medical purposes?
MICHAEL LEITER: Civilian nuclear program doesn’t entail enrichment. There are 57 countries with a civilian nuclear program that don’t have enrichment.
MARGARET BRENNAN: — But they want a little bit, you know that.
MICHAEL LEITER: No, no, if they have a little bit then they can have a lot to move from 60% which they had, to 90%. Look, you don’t build these production plants deep underground if you’re doing it for medical purposes, you have nothing to hide. These people lie. We shouldn’t be surprised when people who murder their own also lie. This has been their pursuit. They’ve been chanting for 47 years, death to America, death to Israel.
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