Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman at the weekend tried to calm international concerns by insisting that even if diplomatic efforts fail, Israel will not attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

In an interview with an Austrian newspaper, Lieberman said that Israel alone cannot militarily resolve a problem that belongs to the entire world. He suggested that only a nation as powerful as the US can do so, and implicitly urged the Obama administration to get tougher with the Islamic Republic.

Addressing other regional issues in an interview with Israel Radio on Sunday, Lieberman said he is ready for peace talks with Syria, but without preconditions.

Lieberman said that if Israel agrees to Syria's precondition that it commit to leave the Golan Heights, then there is nothing to negotiate about.

He also noted that Syria is not entering the process with the proper attitude, as Damascus has repeatedly threatened to retake the Golan by force if Israel fails to meet its preconditions. That, said Lieberman, is an ultimatum, not a negotiation.