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Photo: MCT
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
Photo: MCT

Iran's Zarif criticizes Netanyahu's 'scaremongering'

Iranian FM claims Netanyahu employing 'falsification, propaganda' in attempt to prevent peace, says PM is using planned US speech to 'cover up realities in our region'.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Saturday that "scaremongering" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won't stop the Islamic Republic and world powers from reaching a final nuclear deal.

 

 

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the world should not allow the hard-line Israeli leader to undermine peace. He was referring to Netanyahu's planned speech at the US Congress next week on the emerging nuclear deal that he considers dangerous.

 

"Through scaremongering, falsification, propaganda and creating a false atmosphere even inside other countries, (Israel) is attempting to prevent peace," Zarif told reporters during a joint news conference Saturday with his Italian counterpart, Paolo Gentiloni. "I believe that these attempts are in vain and should not impede reaching a (nuclear) agreement."

 

Zarif: "Netanyahu is opposed to any solution (Photo: AP) (Photo: AP)
Zarif: "Netanyahu is opposed to any solution (Photo: AP)

 

In his sharpest criticism yet, Netanyahu said earlier this week that world powers "have given up" on stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons in ongoing negotiations. Israel views a nuclear-armed Iran as threatening its very existence.

 

Netanyahu's planned address has further strained his relationship with the Obama administration, as America is a key ally to Israel. Netanyahu's speech in the US also comes ahead of March elections in Israel.

 

"Netanyahu is opposed to any solution and (his planned speech in US Congress) signifies his attempts to use an untrue issue and a fabricated crisis to cover up realities in our region, including the occupation (and) suppression of the Palestinian people, violation of rights of Palestinians and continuation of invasive policies," Zarif said.

 

The West fears Iran could build an atomic bomb with its nuclear program. Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes such as energy production and medical research.

 

Iran and the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany reached an interim accord in November 2013. Now, negotiators hope to reach a rough draft of a deal on Iran's disputed nuclear program by the end of March and a final agreement by June 30.

 

Staking out the broad outlines of a deal – without going into specifics – a US official spelled out for AFP where Washington was standing firm:

 

  • Iran should not be allowed to develop weapons-grade plutonium at its Arak reactor. "We're discussing how Iran can convert that Arak reactor to serve a different purpose," the official said.

 

  • Iran should not use its Fordo nuclear plant to enrich uranium.

 

  • That would leave only Iran's Natanz plant capable of enriching uranium, which at high grades can be used in nuclear weapons.

 

  • Any deal must ensure that it would take Iran a year to gather enough fissile material to make a bomb.

 

  • Iran would "reduce significantly" its current number of operating centrifuges and its domestic stockpile.

 

  • Iran must agree to unprecedented inspections of both nuclear and production facilities as well as uranium mines and mills, and suspect sites.

 

  • The US is pursuing a deal in which relief from international sanctions demanded by Iran "is phased in over a period of time. We are insisting on the principle that sanctions can snap back into place if Iran were to violate the agreement," the US official said.

 

 The Associated Press and AFP contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.28.15, 17:21
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