Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is calling for the United States to give Iran a “clear ultimatum” to dismantle its nuclear facilities. And he said if Iran fails to comply, the U.S. should “tear them down ourselves.”

The former Pennsylvania senator was the first of three Republican presidential candidates to address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Tuesday, as Americans in 10 states went to the polls to vote in the Super Tuesday primaries.

Santorum told the pro-Israel political affairs group a nuclear Iran is a “threat to freedom loving people around the world” and that if Iran gets nuclear weapons, it will serve as a shield, protecting radical regimes and terrorists around the world.

Santorum also accused President Barack Obama of turning his back on Israel, and chided administration officials for suggesting Iran would not use a nuclear weapon. Santorum said there is nothing in the rhetoric from Iran to suggest the country is being run by “rational actors.”

Fellow Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are schedule to address the AIPAC conference later as they also try to establish pro-Israel credentials with voters.