Lapid says the world must act to protect against Iran

Prime minister speaking to reporters after his meeting with Macron, says world must prevent Iran becoming nuclear threshold state, causing nuclear arms race and destabilizing Mideast; says Israel will not sit back in face of Hezbollah aggression

Itamar Eichner|
Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on Tuesday that Iran is in violation of the nuclear deal.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • Speaking after the two leaders met, Lapid said Israel and France were not only friends, they were strategic partners.
    3 View gallery
    יאיר לפיד ועמנואל מקרון
    יאיר לפיד ועמנואל מקרון
    Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Paris on Tuesday
    (Photo: Reuters)
    The prime minister said that France is one of the main world powers negotiating with Iran on a return to the nuclear deal and although the two countries may disagree about the content of the agreement they are not in disagreement about the facts.
    " Iran is violating the agreement and continues to develop its program. Iran is hiding information from the world, It is enriching uranium beyond the it is allowed to and it has removed cameras from its nuclear sites. Given all this, the world must respond," he said.
    Lapid turned to Macron and reminded him that he was the first among leaders to say that a better deal with Iran, one that would have no time limitations, was needed in order to prevent Iran from becoming a threshold nuclear state.
    "You were right then, and you are even more right today, Lapid said. "The current situation cannot continue as it is. It will lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, which would threaten world peace. We must all work together to stop that from happening," he said.
    3 View gallery
    חצי חצי ראש סבא"א רפאל גרוסי ומתקן ה גרעין של איראן בנתנז
    חצי חצי ראש סבא"א רפאל גרוסי ומתקן ה גרעין של איראן בנתנז
    Iranian uranium enrichment centrifuges at Natanz nuclear site
    (Photo: AFP )
    "Any place where terrorism is found, Iran is never far away," he said as he detailed the disruption by Turkey of an Iranian plot to abduct and kill Israelis.
    Lapid then spoke of the launch of Iranian made UAVs at the Karish oil field on Saturday, by the Hezbollah Islamist group, which the prime minister said is a terrorist organization, that threatens Lebanon's stability, violates Lebanon's sovereignty and threatens escalation with Israel.
    "Hezbollah has more than 100,000 rockets in Lebanon aimed at Israel," Lapid said. "Israel will not sit back and do nothing, given these repeated attacks.
    3 View gallery
    יאיר לפיד ועמנואל מקרון
    יאיר לפיד ועמנואל מקרון
    Emmanuel Macron and Yair Lapid on Tuesday
    (Photo: AP)
    Lapid thanked the president, who he called "my friend," for his hospitality.
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""