Tel Aviv - Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman sees Iran as the biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East, he told the newspaper Jerusalem Post on Friday.

He said it would not be possible to resolve a single problem in the region without first settling the issue of Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

This applied to Lebanon and Syria as well as "the problems with Islamic extremists in Egypt, the Gaza Strip and Iraq," he told the daily.

Lieberman said he did "not want to even think about the consequences a crazy nuclear arms race would have for the region."

Israel and many countries in the West believe Iran is using its nuclear programme to gain expertise for making nuclear weapons, a charge which Tehran denies.

The foreign minister, who heads the ultra-right Israel Beitenu (Our Home Israel), rejected the idea of Palestinian refugees returning to Israel in the event of a negotiated peace settlement.

Lieberman also called for the radical Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip should be "strangled" and said it made little sense to continue indirect talks with Syria as long as that country continued to deepen its relations with Iran. (dpa)