Israel urges more pressure on Iran's leaders

By Jason Szep

BOSTON (Reuters) - Israel's Foreign Minister urged the international community on Wednesday to tighten pressure, including economic sanctions, on Iran to halt its nuclear program and said: "The clock is ticking."

"We must increase the pressure on the Iranian leadership now if we want to avoid difficult dilemmas in the future," Tzipi Livni said in a speech to Massachusetts state lawmakers after a visit to Washington this week.

"The United Nations and the international community at large have recognized that economic sanctions, especially on Iran's energy sector, are the best means to pursue Iran to change its dangerous course," she said.

The West accuses Tehran of following a program that could lead to nuclear weapons but Iran insists its development is for peaceful power generation only.

Livni said there were plenty of ways to put pressure on Iran but said: "The clock is ticking."

The U.N. Security Council last week imposed more sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend nuclear enrichment and other sensitive activities. Western analysts doubt they will deter Tehran from its nuclear program.

"There are many who would like to see the flames of fire in the Middle East grow higher," Livni said in Boston.

"When the Iranian regime denies the Holocaust, furthers the destruction of a fellow state, supports terror and violence while pursuing a nuclear weapon, it must be stopped," she said to applause from the Massachusetts lawmakers.

Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has questioned whether the Holocaust took place.

Livni did not address the issue of Israel's plans to build hundreds of new homes in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticized the settlement expansion on Wednesday, saying it did not help the peace process.

"We are determined to continue our quest to reach peace with those of the Palestinian side who ... have embraced as we have the vision of two states for two peoples," Livni said.

(Editing by David Storey)