IRAN-NUCLEAR/NETANYAHU UPDATE Israel's Netanyahu calls Iran nuclear deal 'historic' mistake

Record ID: 146712

  • Title: IRAN-NUCLEAR/NETANYAHU UPDATE Israel's Netanyahu calls Iran nuclear deal 'historic' mistake
  • Date: 14th July 2015
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JULY 14, 2015) (REUTERS) JERUSALEM STREET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SITTING IN CAFE PEOPLE IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERUSALEM RESIDENT, LINDA, SAYING: "I think that there was no choice but for the American government and the others to try to reach an agreement with Iran. I'm not convinced that the agreement as I understand it will actually stop Iran from getting
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2015 13:00
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  • Location: Jerusalem
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4Y5HWTCONWWRNIOW6TKVW634V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement reached on Tuesday (July 14) by Iran and major world powers on Tehran's nuclear programme as a historic mistake. He said he would do what he could to block Iran's nuclear ambitions.
    "When one is prepared to strike a deal at any price, this is the result. From the first reports (coming in from Vienna) we can already determine that this is a historic mistake for the world. In all areas meant to prevent Iran form arming itself with nuclear weapons - excessive concessions have been made," Netanyahu said at the start of a meeting with Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders in Jerusalem.
    "It is impossible to prevent a deal when the negotiators are willing to make more and more concessions to those who during the talks calls 'Death to America'. We knew very well the desire to reach a deal was stronger than anything else, which is why we did not make a commitment to stop the deal, we are committed to prevent Iran from arming itself with nuclear weapons and this commitment stands," he said.
    Koenders tried to assure Netanyahu that Iran will be held to account over its part of the agreement.
    "Success of any deal which we will see later today would depend on Iran's rapid and complete implementation of all requirements," he said.
    But Israelis in the streets of Jerusalem expressed scepticism about the agreement to curb Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
    "I think that there was no choice but for the American government and the others to try to reach an agreement with Iran. I'm not convinced that the agreement as I understand it will actually stop Iran from getting a bomb but you have to try," said Linda.
    "Now they (Iran) are going to get all this money and they are going to fund even more terrorism and it has just made everything so bad and it's going to cause the death of so many more people and it's just horrible, It think it's just horrible," said Bracha Mersky.
    "I'm very surprised at [United States President Barack] Obama. Regardless of what the guarantees are, Iran just like North Korea cannot be trusted. And I hope that the U.S congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate will go over this agreement very carefully and if necessary hold it back," said Abe.
    Having failed to prevent the deal, Israel will try to bog down its approval by the U.S. Congress while ramping up efforts to flag any violations by Tehran that might trigger renewed sanctions - or even a preemptive Israeli attack.
    Congress has 60 days to review the deal, and if it votes to disapprove of it, Obama can veto the rejection.
    It would require two thirds of lawmakers to override such a veto, which means some of Obama's fellow Democrats would have to rebel against one of the signature achievements of their president in order to kill the deal.
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