BICOM

Israeli leaders repeated yesterday that Iran must be stripped of its ability to produce nuclear weapons, following a detailed briefing from the United States’ chief nuclear negotiator.

Last week, during talks in Vienna, Iranian officials and representatives of the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) appeared to reach agreement on a framework and agenda for talks to reach a long-term solution to Iran’s nuclear development.

Following last week’s talks, the lead US negotiator, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, travelled directly to Jerusalem to brief Israeli leaders on the negotiations. She reportedly met yesterday for several hours with Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, National Security Advisor Yossi Cohen and other intelligence and security officials. During a press conference, Sherman said that “the talks with Iran will be very hard.” She played down the prospect of totally dismantling Iran’s nuclear capability, saying, “I would like there to be zero enrichment … I would like there to be no facilities … I would like many things in life. But that does not mean I will get them.”

Steinitz said that yesterday’s dialogue was held in “great detail.” However, he commented, “Israel reiterated and made clear its position that an agreement with Iran must include dismantling its ability to progress toward a nuclear weapon.” At the start of yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed similar sentiments, saying , “I am concerned about the fact that Iran believes it will actualize its [nuclear] program… with enrichment abilities that won’t be touched,” explaining that, “A permanent agreement must not perpetuate this situation… Iran must be rid of its ability to create or launch nuclear weapons. This has yet to be accomplished and without the insistence of the [P5+1] powers, it will not be accomplished.”

Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said during a visit to the Golan Heights that Iran “is handing out torches to pyromaniacs” by giving regional proxies such as Hezbollah “ammunition, rockets” and manpower.