Netanyahu: We will never allow Iran to have an atomic bomb
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday (November 28) that Israel will do "everything" to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, after Iran's top diplomat warned it may end a ban on its development. one if Western sanctions were reimposed.
The renewed war of words between the Middle East foes came as Iran prepares to hold key nuclear talks on Friday with European governments, which have been overshadowed by their alliance with Washington to have Tehran censured by the country's nuclear watchdog. United Nations.
“I will do everything to prevent it from becoming a nuclear (power), I will use all resources that can be used,” Netanyahu told Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 in an interview.
Israel is the only state in the region equipped with nuclear weapons, even if undeclared. He has long made preventing any rival from matching him his top defense priority.
Netanyahu said Tuesday that the ceasefire that took effect in Lebanon the next day would allow Israel to focus on Iran. He did not say what actions he had planned.
Iran fired two volleys of missiles at Israel last year in retaliation for the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders and an Iranian general.
Israel responded both times with limited attacks on Iran, the latest of which bombed several military sites on October 26.
Last week's rebuke to the International Atomic Energy Agency prompted a defiant response from Tehran, but its officials have since signaled a willingness to engage with others ahead of the return of US President-elect Donald Trump, whose last administration pursued a policy of “maximum pressure” against Iran.
It is not clear what an Israeli anti-nuclear intervention in Iran would look like. It may not even take the form of a direct attack, but of well-coordinated sabotage operations that would render Tehran's enrichment infrastructure unusable.
The current doctrine is “insufficient
Iran insists on its right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich uranium to 60%, according to the IAEA.
In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, published on the eve of Iran's talks with Britain, France and Germany, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran's frustration with unfulfilled commitments, such as the lifting of sanctions, is fueling the debate on whether to change the country's nuclear policy.
“We have no intention of going beyond 60% at the moment, and that is our determination at the moment,” he told the British newspaper.
But, he added, “there is an ongoing debate in Iran, especially among the elites… whether we should change our nuclear doctrine,” as it has so far proven “insufficient in practice.”
The 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers aimed to relieve Iran of heavy Western sanctions in exchange for limiting its nuclear program to prevent it from developing a weapons capability.
Busher nuclear power plant in Iran
Tehran has always denied any such ambition. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final authority in Iran's decision-making, issued a religious decree, or fatwa, banning atomic weapons.
Tehran's willingness to sit down with the three European governments so soon after the censorship comes just weeks before Trump returns to the White House.
During his first term, Trump focused on reintroducing tough sanctions on Iran following his administration's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 deal, three years after it was signed.
In retaliation for the US withdrawal, Tehran reduced its compliance with the deal, increasing uranium enrichment levels to 60%, approaching the 90% needed for a nuclear bomb.
Free exchange
Under the 2015 deal – which expires in October 2025 – Iran's enrichment was limited to 3.67%.
Iranian diplomat Majid Takht-Ravanchi, who serves as Araghchi's political deputy, is expected to represent Iran in Friday's talks.
On Thursday, he and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi met with Enrique Mora, deputy secretary general of the European Union's foreign affairs department.
Mora stated on the parties) and on human rights".
Last week, the 35-nation IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution proposed by Britain, France, Germany and the United States condemning Iran for its lack of cooperation on nuclear issues.
Iran called the decision “politically motivated” and in response announced the launch of “new advanced centrifuges” to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium.
According to political analyst Mostafa Shirmohammadi, the goal of Friday's talks is to avoid a "double catastrophe" scenario, in which Iran would face new pressure from both Trump and European governments.
He noted that Iran's support among European governments has been eroded by accusations that it offered military assistance to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. If before the EU would have carefully reviewed the end of sanctions on Iran and the return to the JCPOA, now, after the intervention in Ukraine, these countries are much more rigid.
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This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/netanyahu-non-permetteremo-mai-alliran-di-avere-la-bomba-atomica/ on Sat, 30 Nov 2024 09:00:15 +0000.