Israeli official: ‘Military option’ still on the table against Iran

An Israeli government official reportedly said on Monday that the “military option” against Iran is still on the table despite last week’s deal over the country’s nuclear program.

“It was on the table. It’s still on the table. It’s going to remain on the table,” Minister for Strategic Affairs Yuval Steinitz said, according to The Associated Press. “Israel should be able to defend itself, by itself, against any threat. And it’s our right and duty to decide how to defend ourselves, especially if our national security and even very existence is under threat.”

{mosads}He added that Israel still prefers a diplomatic resolution to its longstanding conflict with Iran and would be lobbying world powers until June to try to get them to cut a harsher deal.

Israel has staunchly opposed the bargain hammered out in Switzerland.

“I think this is a dream deal for Iran, and it’s a nightmare deal for the world,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview this week.

A framework for the deal was finalized on Thursday. It would require Iran to limit its nuclear development in return for lifted sanctions that could return if Iran backed out of its end.

President Obama said in an interview published Sunday that the deal was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Many members of Congress have said that they deserve a chance to review the deal, including some Democrats.