Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led calls from Israel condemning the deal struck between world powers and Iran over the latter’s nuclear activity.
The P5+1 group of the USA, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany agreed that in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions against Iran, the Shia power will limit its nuclear activity, and agree to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Netanyahu, who has for years stressed the importance of not signing a bad deal, criticized the agreement as a “stunning historic mistake” in a televised statement. The prime minister fears that the deal enables Iran to produce a nuclear weapon, even by sticking to the terms of the deal itself.
Many of the restrictions to Iran’s nuclear program only apply for 10-15 years, after which their enrichment and other activities become unlimited, although checks on their activity will remain.
Israel’s premier also aired fears about Iran’s ability to expand its destabilizing influence on the region, with the release of an estimated one hundred billions dollars of assets soon to be at the regime’s disposal. “We will always defend ourselves,” he added, signalling that Israel does not see itself as party to the agreement.
Elsewhere, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Ministry called the deal “a victory through lies and deception.”
“We are committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and if necessary, we will know how to protect ourselves,” the statement read.
The Israeli opposition leader, Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog, said he would “act to ensure that the US would answer Israel’s immediate security needs, not only its future fears.”
Herzog announced that after consulting Netanyahu, he will fly to the US to push for greater security assistance in light of the new reality, however he added that he has “full confidence in the strength of Israeli society to confront and overcome any challenge and danger in its path.”
It was also announced on Tuesday that Israeli Minister Yuval Steinitz, who is responsible for monitoring the Iranian nuclear issue, will hold a briefing on Wednesday morning.
Steinitz may address whether Israel will call on its allies in Congress to vote down the agreement. In the US, thanks to a bill passed earlier in the year, Congress will be able to do so within 60 days. However, Obama has already announced his intention to veto any attempt to block the agreement from being enforced.
Defending the agreement, US President Barack Obama said that it ensures that “every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off” for Iran. He touted the verification guarantees as proof that the agreement is not built on the trust of the Iranian regime, which still actively preaches for the destruction of the West.
Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett slammed those verification terms, which reportedly gives Iran 24 days notice before an inspection of their facilities, and does not include live cameras to be set up inside the nuclear sites.
