Netanyahu claims more support for his stance on Iran now
PM implies that increased backing for Israeli position on Tehran's nuclear program stems from his Congress speech
Following his speech last week before Congress, officials in the United States and across the world have become more receptive to Israel’s fears over Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.
Talking to a cadre of top IDF officers in the West Bank, the prime minister reiterated his belief that an impending deal between Iran and major world powers, in its reported form, would enable Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.
“One week after my address to Congress I get the impression that there are more and more voices, especially in the US, but also in other places, that support Israel’s position,” Netanyahu said.
Some media commenters perceived that statement as a reference to a group of 47 Republican senators, including Senate leaders and several potential 2016 presidential candidates, who wrote an open letter to Iran’s leader, warning any deal with US President Barack Obama might not be honored in future.
“The agreement being formulated between the major powers and Iran gives a clear path to Iran to achieve a nuclear bomb,” Netanyahu said, adding that “a better agreement must be sought.”
Iran and the six-nation group — the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — hope to reach a rough deal on the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear program by March 31 and a final agreement by June 30.
Netanyahu said that he hoped that “more realistic” views would be aired vis-a-vis Iran and that Israel would continue monitoring negotiations closely.
Obama said Sunday that the US would “walk away” from a bad Iran deal, amid a nadir in ties between the two leaders over conflicting views on how to tackle the nuclear program and Netanyahu’s controversial Congress speech.
Obama said that any agreement must allow Western powers to verify that Tehran isn’t going to obtain an atomic weapon, and must ensure that even if Iran “cheated,” the US and others would have “enough time to take action.”
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
comments