IRAN-NUCLEAR/ISRAEL Israel accuses world powers of yielding to Iran for nuclear deal

Record ID: 151262

  • Title: IRAN-NUCLEAR/ISRAEL Israel accuses world powers of yielding to Iran for nuclear deal
  • Date: 14th June 2015
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JUNE 14, 2105) (REUTERS) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU CONVENING WEEKLY CABINET MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING: "To our regret, the reports that are coming in from the world powers attest to an acceleration of concessions by them in the face of Iranian stubbornness. From the outset, the agreement being p
  • Embargoed: 29th June 2015 13:00
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  • Location: Jerusalem
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  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA80LF8YS2EPA1G10KLBWOV0Z0W
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused world powers on Sunday (June 14) of stepping up concessions to Iran to enable a deal by June 30 on curbing its nuclear programme even as Tehran balks at demands for heightened U.N. inspections.
    Netanyahu has argued that the agreement in the works would not deny Iran - which says its nuclear projects are peaceful - the means of making a bomb, while granting it sanctions relief that could help bankroll its guerrilla allies in the region.
    "To our regret, the reports that are coming in from the world powers attest to an acceleration of concessions by them in the face of Iranian stubbornness," Netanyahu told his cabinet in broadcast remarks on Sunday. He did not offer further details.
    Netanyahu's point-man on the Iranian talks, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, said it appeared that world powers were prepared to accommodate Tehran's resistance to expanded, short-order U.N. nuclear inspections and demand to continue research and development of uranium centrifuges that make nuclear fuel.
    On Saturday (June 13), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country, in the name of protecting state secrets, could reject stepped-up inspections - even at the cost of missing the June 30 deadline.
    Western diplomats had sought the right to carry out inspections with as little as two hours' notice.
    But in a televised address on Sunday, Rouhani played up the benefits of easing Iran's international isolation and pledged to reach a deal that would end the hardship of sanctions.
    Ahead of the cabinet meeting on Sunday, Steinitz said: "I call on world powers -- in light of (Iranian president Hassan) Rouhani over the weekend, in light of the Iranian refusal as revealed in Rouhani's remarks -- not to sign an agreement which does not include an article of immediate regulation, within hours or days, on the suspicious sites."
    On a visit to Israel last week, America's top general sought to reassure Israel -- widely assumed to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal -- of "unshakable" U.S. military support.
    General Martin Dempsey said long-term prospects were "far better" with an Iran that was not a nuclear weapons power and that Washington would work to mitigate Iran-related risks, with or without a deal.
    Netanyahu urged world powers to hold off on a final accord.
    "From the outset, the agreement being put together looked bad. It looks worse and worse with each passing day. It's not too late to come to their senses, postpone this bad deal and insist on a better deal," he said in his cabinet remarks.
    The United States has said it stands by the end-June deadline for an agreement but other officials have indicated the date might be missed as negotiations about technical details drag on.
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