Israel will ramp up its lobbying of the US Congress to try to hinder the nuclear agreement struck with Iran yesterday and minutely monitor the deal for any violations in the hope of getting sanctions reimposed on Tehran.
Responding with alacrity to news that six world powers had agreed to lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, Israel’s prime minister and other senior officials condemned the historic pact.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has described Iran as akin to the militants of Islamic State, said the deal was “a stunning, historic mistake”.
In a statement before convening his inner circle of ministers to discuss the deal, he added: “Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran because Iran continues to seek our destruction. We will always defend ourselves.”
Netanyahu later held a phone conversation with US President Barack Obama in which he expressed Israel’s concern over the deal, an Israeli government source said.
“It will afford Iran the ability to arm itself with nuclear weapons in 10 to 15 years’ time, whether it keeps to the agreement, and beforehand if it breaks the deal,” the source said.
“Additionally, it will channel billions of dollars to the Iranian terror and war machine which threatens Israel and the entire world.”
Iran does not recognise Israel and has in the past said it should be wiped off the map, leading the small Jewish state, widely assumed to possess the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal, to portray Iran as a threat to its existence.
Having spent months trying to stall the deal and expose its perceived frailties, Israeli officials said they would now focus on persuading the US Congress to reject it, while tracking Iran meticulously to catch violations.
US lawmakers have 60 days to review the deal, with Obama seeking bipartisan support for an agreement that would be a central plank of his legacy. Even if the review goes against Obama, he could overrule Congress by veto, although that would tarnish the achievement.
Netanyahu’s relations with the White House are already rocky, not least because he addressed a joint session of Congress in March to criticise the emerging deal, and some in Israel have questioned the value of lobbying Congress again.
But confidants of Netanyahu said he was as determined as ever to have his views heard.
Under the agreement, international sanctions on Iran could be reimposed within 65 days if Tehran violates any part of the pact, diplomats said.
Netanyahu has also beefed up Israel’s armed forces, which have been tasked with preparing last-ditch strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites – though such a prospect has little support domestically and is seen as highly unlikely.
Washington, which gives Israel $3-billion (R36-billion) in annual defence grants and has signalled that it is open to increasing that, has tried to stay its ally’s hand with joint missile defence projects designed to offset the threat from Iran.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said the Palestinians welcomed the agreement which he said would “help stabilise our region and resolve problems”. — Reuters
Iran: major powers strikes nuclear deal
Responding with alacrity to news that six world powers had agreed to lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, Israel’s prime minister and other senior officials condemned the historic pact.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has described Iran as akin to the militants of Islamic State, said the deal was “a stunning, historic mistake”.
In a statement before convening his inner circle of ministers to discuss the deal, he added: “Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran because Iran continues to seek our destruction. We will always defend ourselves.”
Netanyahu later held a phone conversation with US President Barack Obama in which he expressed Israel’s concern over the deal, an Israeli government source said.
“It will afford Iran the ability to arm itself with nuclear weapons in 10 to 15 years’ time, whether it keeps to the agreement, and beforehand if it breaks the deal,” the source said.
“Additionally, it will channel billions of dollars to the Iranian terror and war machine which threatens Israel and the entire world.”
Iran does not recognise Israel and has in the past said it should be wiped off the map, leading the small Jewish state, widely assumed to possess the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal, to portray Iran as a threat to its existence.
Having spent months trying to stall the deal and expose its perceived frailties, Israeli officials said they would now focus on persuading the US Congress to reject it, while tracking Iran meticulously to catch violations.
US lawmakers have 60 days to review the deal, with Obama seeking bipartisan support for an agreement that would be a central plank of his legacy. Even if the review goes against Obama, he could overrule Congress by veto, although that would tarnish the achievement.
Netanyahu’s relations with the White House are already rocky, not least because he addressed a joint session of Congress in March to criticise the emerging deal, and some in Israel have questioned the value of lobbying Congress again.
But confidants of Netanyahu said he was as determined as ever to have his views heard.
Under the agreement, international sanctions on Iran could be reimposed within 65 days if Tehran violates any part of the pact, diplomats said.
Netanyahu has also beefed up Israel’s armed forces, which have been tasked with preparing last-ditch strikes on Tehran’s nuclear sites – though such a prospect has little support domestically and is seen as highly unlikely.
Washington, which gives Israel $3-billion (R36-billion) in annual defence grants and has signalled that it is open to increasing that, has tried to stay its ally’s hand with joint missile defence projects designed to offset the threat from Iran.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said the Palestinians welcomed the agreement which he said would “help stabilise our region and resolve problems”. — Reuters
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