VAhead of the planned revival of the Iran nuclear deal, Israel has instructed its army and intelligence agency to “prepare for any scenario.” Prime Minister Jair Lapid said on Sunday, according to his office: “We will stand ready to act to protect Israel’s security. Americans understand this, the world understands this, and Israeli society needs to know this too.”
At talks in Vienna at the beginning of August, representatives of Iran and several countries, including Germany, mediated by the EU, tried to come to an agreement to lift US sanctions and restrict Tehran’s nuclear program again. Those were the original goals of a 2015 pact designed to prevent Tehran from building nuclear weapons. The United States left the agreement in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. At the end of the talks, EU foreign policy chief Borrell emphasized that the text of the agreement was now complete and all that was needed was a “yes or no”. Since then, however, the negotiations have continued, and Tehran has also proposed new changes.
Israel demands more drastic agreement
Israeli Prime Minister Lapid said it was a “bad deal”. Israel is demanding an agreement that lasts longer and includes tighter surveillance of Iran’s nuclear program and curbs on its missile program. Israel sees itself as an existential threat from Iran. In the past, the Israeli leadership has indirectly threatened an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Israeli news site “ynet” reported on Sunday that the head of the foreign intelligence service Mossad would travel to the United States. He will present further arguments against the agreement before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Mossad boss David Barnea recently accused the US of rushing into an agreement “that is a complete lie”.
