nuclear-news

Australia needs to do more to stop a nuclear Iran

Australia needs to do more to stop a nuclear Iran: expert Naomi Levin

AUSTRALIA can do more to pressure Iran into halting its nuclear weapons program, according to counterterrorism expert Dr Matt Levitt. Australian Jewish news 2 June 09

Dr Levitt, director of The Washington Institute’s Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, was brought to Australia by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council for a whirlwind tour of Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

Speaking in Melbourne last week, he praised the Rudd Government’s sanctions against Iran, but said there was more Australia could do.

He recommended adding Bank Melat to the list of Iranian banks banned from conducting transactions with Australia.

Bank Melat, along with two other banks on the banned list, played a key role in financing Iran’s nuclear program, he said. “Australia could also use its leverage with countries like South Korea, where Bank Melat has its Asian branch,” Dr Levitt said.

It could use its leverage with Malaysia [where] small Malaysian banks are picking up some of the international bank transfer services for some of the Iranian banks.”

Speaking to The AJN the day after Iran had successfully test-fired a medium-range missile, he said it was not too late to give up using diplomacy as a persuasive tool.

Australia needs to do more to stop a nuclear Iran: expert (June 2, 2009)

June 5, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized