Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Friday told Xinhua that, if applied effectively and comprehensively, diplomatic measures and economic sanctions can prompt Iran to abandon its nuclear ambition.

During an interview with Xinhua in Jerusalem, Olmert stressed that if the international community can impose an effective economic sanction, it can be of great significance and can be very influential on the Iranian policy. He said that Iran's nuclear plan poses grave threat not only to Israel but many other countries.

"I think it's widely shared by the international community that to allow a nuclear capacity to a country which openly and explicitly talks about the use of the nuclear capacity against other countries is a great danger and threat we can't afford to have," Olmert said.

Regarding Israel's response to Iranian pursuit of nuclear capability, Olmert downplayed the possibility of Israeli military action against Iran. "I really don't think it is the only responsibility of Israel," he said.

"I hope that the day will not come, I hope very much that diplomatic measures and economic sanctions will be effective...and therefore I believe that if we take necessary diplomatic measures together with economic sanctions effectively by the whole international community, the outcome will be positive," Olmert said.

"And I think the sanctions can be very helpful. I don't underestimate it. Of course the present sanctions are not sufficient. But they are a signal to Iran of what may come later," he added.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Dec. 23 last year that demanded Iran suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and imposed a nuclear-related trade ban on Iran. However, Iran vowed to continue its nuclear program despite the resolution, calling its nuclear program a peaceful effort to produce energy.

Source: Xinhua