No agreement can stop Iranian nuclear program; former Israeli PM warns

Jerusalem: The Biden administration has indicated that the nuclear negotiations with Iran have reached the final stages. The agreement may get concluded in the next few days. Former Israeli Prime Minister (PM), Benjamin Netanyahu, warned that this possible agreement would ultimately fail to stop the Iranian nuclear program. The nuclear deal signed with Iran in 2015 paved the way for Iran to make the nuclear bomb. Netanyahu warned that the current agreement being signed by the Biden administration is worse than the previous one.

The nuclear negotiations started by the Biden administration with Iran have reached the final stages. It is being reported that the Biden administration will sign the agreement by providing financial assistance to Iran and giving concessions in the sanctions. Some media also are claiming that this short-term agreement will not be able to stop the Iranian nuclear program. In these circumstances, the US Senators who disapprove of and oppose the nuclear deal are reaching Israel one by one.

Last week, senior Republican Senator Lindsay Graham visited Israel and met Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Defence Minister Benny Gantz, Mossad Chief David Bernie and former PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Graham openly opposed the agreement. Besides, Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the house of representatives in the US Congress, had reached Israel in the next few hours of this development. Pelosi had supported the possible nuclear deal with Iran. But now, members of the ruling Democrat and opposition Democratic party from the House of Representatives have reached Israel.

During his address to these visiting US lawmakers, former PM Netanyahu appealed to adopt an aggressive stand. Former Israel PM pointed out, ‘The way to stop the arming of such regimes with military weapons is not, then, through agreements. It is important to understand that it just does not work. The only thing that has worked in the past is one of two things or both: either crippling sanctions or a credible military response or both — preferably both.’ Former PM Netanyahu targeted the nuclear negotiations saying that no third option would succeed. Israel has taken actions to stop regimes attempting to develop nuclear weapons. It had launched attacks on the nuclear projects in those countries. Former PM Netanyahu pointed to the attacks carried out by Israel in 1981 in Iraq and 2007 in Syria. Netanyahu issued a warning in precise words that military action is required to stop the Iranian nuclear program.

Following the reports that the Iran nuclear agreement will be signed in the next few days, Israeli Prime Minister Bennett had said that this agreement does not bind Israel. While speaking at a function, Bennett had warned that this agreement would spark violence in the Gulf region, making it unstable. Biden administration has reacted to this. The Biden administration has clarified that the mistake of leaving the nuclear deal cannot be repeated. The White House spokesman said while speaking to the Israeli media that he believes the agreement is possible only through negotiations. Therefore, the Biden administration insists that it will sign the nuclear deal under any circumstances.