Lapid in Germany: Nuclear deal with Iran a 'crucial mistake'

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tells PM during joint press conference that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, claiming it is main objective of his government; leaders to jointly visit site of 1942 'final solution' decision

Itamar Eichner|
Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who is on a state visit to Germany, said Monday a revival of the nuclear deal with Iran would be a "crucial mistake."
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  • Speaking during a joint press conference in Berlin with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Lapid said he presented the chancellor with sensitive intelligence information, which supports Israel's opposition to the emerging agreement.
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    יאיר לפיד ואולף שולץ
    יאיר לפיד ואולף שולץ
    Yair Lapid speaking after meeting Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday
    (Photo: AFP)
    "We discussed the need for a new strategy to stop Iran's nuclear program," Lapid told reporters as the two men appeared before them to make statements.
    "Returning to the nuclear agreement under the current conditions would be a crucial mistake," he said. "Removing sanctions and pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into Iran will bring waves of terrorism, not only to the Middle East, but also across Europe."
    Lapid welcomed the statement released by Germany, Britain and France over the weekend, criticizing Iran's latest demands, and claimed they were in contradiction to the legally binding obligations under the 2015 nucleal deal, known as JCPOA.
    Scholz said Iran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. He said Germany and the other European powers had made suggestions that Iran had refused.
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    יאיר לפיד ואולף שולץ
    יאיר לפיד ואולף שולץ
    Yair Lapid during press conference with Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday
    (Photo: AFP)
    The European countries "have made proposals, and there is no reason now for Iran not to agree to these proposals, but we have to take note of the fact that this isn't the case, so it certainly won't happen soon, although it looked for a while like it would," Scholz said. "We remain patient, but we also remain clear: Iran must be prevented from being able to deploy nuclear weapons."
    Earlier, Lapid met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
    He will later visit the site of the 1942 The Wannsee Conference, where the Nazi regime decided on the "final solution," their program to exterminate the Jewish population of Europe. Lapid will be accompanied by Scholz and a group of Holocaust survivors.
    In his statement, Lapid said he as the son of a survivor and the grandson of a victim of the Nazi murder at the Mauthausen concentration camp, is proud to represent the State of Israel on German soil.
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    יאיר לפיד ואולף שולץ
    יאיר לפיד ואולף שולץ
    Yair Lapid, Olaf Scholz
    (Photo: EPA)
    "The deep ties between our countries, Mr. Chancellor, are proof that humanity always has a choice," Lapid said.
    "Evil can be replaced by friendship. Brutality can be replaced by human kindness and the ability to cooperate," he said.

    Associated Press contributed to this report
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