'Sanctions not only option against Iran'

Ynetnews -- US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro said Thursday that Washington has prepared a set of alternative options to deal with Iran's nuclear program, should the financial sanctions prove futile.

Shapiro made the remarks ahead of US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey 's first visit to Israel.

Shapiro, who took part in Haifa University's America Day, reiterated the assertion that Iran's atom program is aimed at developing nuclear weapons, adding that financial pressure against the Islamic Republic must be stepped up in order to make Tehran understand that its actions have a price.

The ambassador noted that when it comes to the Iran, the ties between Washington and Jerusalem have improved since President Barack Obama came to power. "It's natural for friends to disagree occasionally," he added.

Addressing the turmoil in Israel's neighboring nations, Shapiro said that the situation has turned unpredictable. He said that while the US cannot decide who will rule Syria and Egypt, there is a chance that the revolutions there will take a dangerous turn.

"We must make sure that Israel can deal with these changes," he said.

Shapiro also tackled the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, stressing that the two-state solution serves both sides' interests. He said that progress on the issue can only be made through dialogue, and that any such progress would reassert Israel's legitimacy within the international community.