Iran stands as "the world's central problem," due to its tyrannical regime and growing nuclear capabilities, President Shimon Peres said Tuesday. Peres, who was giving the keynote address at the 12th Annual Herzliya Conference, said the nation presents the dangerous pairing of a tyrannical regime and growing nuclear capabilities, and that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad seeks "regional hegemony and even global hegemony. Iran is trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction to intimidate the public and implement its imperialistic aspirations, and doing so under the guise of religious robes. When it comes to dealing with Iran's increasing nuclear capabilities, "No option should be ruled out," Peres said. He went on to stress that Iran presents an existential threat, and "nuclear weapons must not be allowed to reach the hands of the reigning ayatollahs in Iran. This is the most morally corrupt regime in the world." Keeping Iran away from the bomb is not just Israel's responsibility, Peres said -- the burden rests on the shoulders of the entire world. "Most leaders of the free world have obliged themselves to such, and they must uphold their commitment," he said. "Iran's current regime sentences people to death over their opinions. This regime finances, guides, and provides training for terrorists so that it can sow seeds of dread and murder throughout the world. At every opportunity, in every place, we must condemn and denounce such actions. The current Iranian regime has to be kept out of the halls of international governmental buildings and away from the lounges of the U.N." Peres also told the crowd that the Iranian threat was complicated. "The threat should not be underestimated, but we also should not be overcome by panic. We should be confident in that which we hold in our hands." He added that the regime's days were likely limited, as well. "This regime only offers destruction as its future," he said. "It serves as a threat to human rights and the peace of nations." The annual Herzliya conference series is run by the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (IDC)'s Institute for Policy and Strategy and "draws together international and Israeli participants from the highest levels of government, business and academia to address the most pressing national, regional and global issues." This year's four-day conference runs until Feb. 2, with scheduled speakers including IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat and Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer. Meanwhile, U.N. inspectors visiting Iran did not tour any of Iran's nuclear facilities, according to reports from Iran's official news agency, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Tuesday. IRNA quoted an unnamed Iranian official as saying the team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted negotiations with Iranians and did not visit the sites where uranium is being enriched. He said the talks were held in a "positive and constructive atmosphere." The report did not elaborate. There was no comment from the U.N. team. Tension has been building over Iran's nuclear program for several months. The U.S. and its allies charge that Iran is using its uranium enrichment facilities to produce material for nuclear weapons. Iran has declined to abandon its enrichment labs, saying it seeks to operate the reactors only for energy and medical purposes, not for making weapons. The IAEA team arrived Sunday for a three-day visit. An Iranian official indicated it could be extended, but a report from the semi-offical Fars news agency Tuesday indicated the talks were over. Mohammad Karamirad, a member of the influential parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, told the ISNA news agency Tuesday that the visit by the IAEA team showed Iran has engaged in "comprehensive and honest cooperation with the agency." Karamirad said, "The visit can be beginning of new round of talks with the West, and it proves the peacefulness of Iran's nuclear activities." Iran has been trying to display cooperation with the team and downplay expectations of a confrontational atmosphere during the visit, which began Sunday.
