Posted in: 28/08/2022 – 20:17
In order to hold talks on reviving the Iranian nuclear deal, the head of the intelligence agency (Mossad) will visit the United States in early September, an Israeli official announced Sunday. Israel is waging a campaign to persuade Western countries not to revive the Iran nuclear deal.
The head of the intelligence service (Mossad) intends to go to the United States in early September from for talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal, according to an Israeli official confirmed Sunday. This visit will be the latest Israeli attempt to dissuade Western powers from returning to the 2015 agreement with Tehran.
The Hebrew state considers that the agreement will facilitate the financing of militants backed by its archenemy Iran and will not prevent Tehran from developing its nuclear weapons, which the Islamic Republic denies seeking to achieve.
A senior Israeli official, who preferred not to be identified, told AFP that Mossad chief David Barnea “will visit Washington within a week to participate in closed-door meetings in Congress on the Iran deal.”
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid indicated earlier on Sunday that Israel’s “diplomatic war” against the agreement included the holding of the National Security Adviser and Defense Minister recent meetings in the United States.
“We are making concerted efforts to make sure that the Americans and Europeans understand the risks involved in the agreement,” Lapid said. He stressed that the 2015 agreement was “not a good deal” and that the formula currently being discussed carried “more risks”.
The 2015 agreement between Iran and the major powers (the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany) allowed the lifting of international sanctions that were imposed on Tehran, in return for reducing its nuclear activities.
However, its effects have become null and void since former US President Donald Trump decided to unilaterally withdraw his country from it in 2018, re-imposing severe sanctions on Tehran. The move was welcomed by Israel.
But Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump in the US presidency, expressed his determination to return his country to the board of the agreement, provided that Iran returns to its commitments. After intermittent talks that began in April 2021, the indirect negotiations between the two parties reached a decisive stage: the European Union, the coordinator of the talks, presented a draft “final” settlement, to which Iran suspended last week, and is awaiting a response from the United States on this, while this raised Israel’s concern.
According to the prime minister, the new agreement should include an expiration date, be subject to tighter oversight, and contribute to “addressing Iran’s ballistic missile program and its involvement in terrorism throughout the Middle East.”
“We can reach such an agreement if the confirmed (Iranian) military threat is put on the table, and if the Iranians realize that their defiance and defiance will cost a heavy price,” Lapid added.
Lapid noted that the Israeli army and the intelligence service “received instructions from us to prepare for any scenario.”
The Israeli Prime Minister confirmed Wednesday that the new version of the nuclear agreement will give Iran $100 billion annually to be used by Iranian-backed armed groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad, noting that he is in talks with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany on the file.
FRANCE 24/AFP