Israeli Cabinet minister: Military option against Iran still 'on the table'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Monday, July 30, 2012 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, sits together with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, as they attend the weekly cabinet meeting in his Jerusalem office. Steinitz on Monday said taking military action against Iran’s nuclear program is still an option, despite last week’s framework deal between world powers and the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File) (The Associated Press)
A senior Israeli government minister says taking military action against Iran's nuclear program is still an option — despite last week's framework deal between world powers and the Islamic Republic.
Yuval Steinitz, Israel's minister for strategic affairs, told reporters Monday that the military option is still "on the table."
Israel's government has harshly criticized last week's framework deal, which offers Iran relief from economic sanctions in exchange for scaling back its suspect nuclear program. Israeli leaders believe the deal leaves too much of Iran's nuclear infrastructure intact and would allow the country to easily gain the capability to produce a nuclear weapon.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Steinitz said Israel favors a diplomatic solution and plans on lobbying the international community to improve the deal as its details are finalized in the coming months.