Israel�s proposal that Iran totally dismantle its nuclear capacity in exchange for sanctions relief would likely lead to war, a top White House official told think tanks and advocacy groups sympathetic to the Obama administration�s Iran strategy, in a conference call on Wednesday.

According to the recording, obtained by JTA on condition that it not name the participants or fully quote them, the White House official said that given a choice between �total capitulation� and advancing toward a nuclear weapon, Iran would choose the weapon. That posture, the official said, would �close the door on diplomacy� and would �essentially lead to war.”

The official sounded notes of frustration with Israel�s pushback against the U.S. proposal for a �first step� deal that would exchange some sanctions relief for some rollback of Iran�s nuclear program, overlooking the six-month window opportunity to influence the deal.

(YWN Headquarters – NYC)