REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, WASHINGTON -  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the United States and other world powers on Tuesday not to allow Iran to retain the ability to enrich uranium.

He reiterated his firm opposition to the possibility that a final deal to curb Iran's disputed nuclear program would allow it to keep some technologies with bomb-making potential. All of these must be dismantled, he said, adding that pressure on Tehran should be increased. That is the reverse of a modest easing of sanctions Iran received under an interim accord with the United States and five other world powers in November.

"Unfortunately the leading powers of the world are talking about leaving Iran with the capability to enrich uranium. I hope they don't do that, because that would be a grave error. It would leave Iran as a threshold nuclear power," he said, addressing the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC just a day after White House talks, on Tuesday.

But the hawkish Israeli leader, who has been accused of trying to scuttle the Iran negotiations, stopped short of issuing any direct threat against the Islamic Republic, Israel's arch foe. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. While Israel is widely believed to have the region's sole atomic arsenal.

Netanyahu's combative remarks followed talks in which he told Obama that he would never compromise on Israel's security even as the US leader sought to reassure him on Iran nuclear diplomacy and pressure him on Middle East peace talks. There was no sign of significant progress from Monday's meeting.

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