Israeli sources claim $170 billion price for nuclear Iran
Officials claim Islamic Republic invested $40 billion over last 20 years in constructing, operating nuclear facilities, yet sanctions led to additional deficit of $130 billion in Iranian economy
The figures came as Israel and the US were locked in a war of words over negotiations between world powers and Iran that could see sanctions relaxed in exchange for Tehran curbing or freezing parts of its controversial nuclear program.
Related stories:
- Kerry: US 'not blind, stupid' in nuclear talks with Iran
- Britain revives ties with Iran
- Ya'alon: Rohani elected to be Iran's 'pretty face'
Of the $170 billion price tag, $40 billion were "invested over the past 20 years in the construction and operation of nuclear infrastructure," the sources told AFP.
They said Iran had "lost $130 billion because of sanctions put in place since 2012," including $105 million linked to the oil sector and $25 billion to banking, trade and industry, development and investment.
US Ambassador Dan Shapiro on Monday sought to quell Israeli fears over an emerging deal with Iran, vowing that Washington would never let Tehran acquire a nuclear weapon.
President Barack Obama "will not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, period," he told delegates attending the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America in Jerusalem.
Western countries accuse Iran of seeking to develop an atomic weapon, a charge Tehran denies.
Diplomats have said they are closing in on an interim agreement that would freeze or curb some of Iran's nuclear activities for as long as six months in exchange for an easing of the tight sanctions on the Islamic republic, after failing to secure a deal at weekend crunch talks in Geneva.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has furiously denounced the emerging agreement as "dangerous," reaching out to world leaders and to the American public to get his point across.
Officials in Israel have warned they could carry out unilateral military action to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons capability.
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
