CRI听力:Netanyahu Claims Iran Not Allowed for Nuclear Arms 'Threshold'  

Netanyahu Claims Iran Not Allowed for Nuclear Arms 'Threshold' 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met with U.S. President Barack Obama, telling Obama that any final nuclear deal between Iran and world powers should not allow Tehran to stand at the "threshold" of being able to develop nuclear weapons.

Meeting at the White House, Netanyahu says preventing Iran from acquiring an atomic bomb is a critical goal that he and Obama share.

Netanyahu has also told Obama he hopes the U.S. will continue to keep up its current sanctions against Iran.

"As you know Mr. President, Iran seeks a deal that would lift the tough sanctions that you worked so hard to put into place, and leave it as a threshold nuclear power. And I fervently hope that under your leadership, that would not happen."

Iran has been denying that it is developing nuclear weapons.

Also as part of the meeting, Obama and Netanyahu have also discussed the Middle East peace process.

Obama says the status quo between Israel and the Palestinians is not sustainable.

"I think we also recognize that we have to find ways to change the status quo so that both Israeli citizens are safe in their own homes and school children in their schools from the possibility of rocket fire also so we don't have the tragedy of Palestinian children being killed as well."

This is the first time Obama and Netanyahu have met face-to-face since the Israeli military incursion into the Gaza Strip earlier this year.