PM Netanyahu's presentation
Photo: AP
EU ambassador insists Iran deal works, 'worth keeping'
Emanuele Giaufret shares with Ynet his thoughts on how to proceed following Netanyahu's presentation of Iran's secret atomic archive, rejecting notion that Europe is 'burying its head in the sand'; declines to speculate on Trump's decision on nuclear deal, and maintains 'robust' deal 'is working'
Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bleak assessment during a presentation on Iran nuclear weapons program on Monday, European Union Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret said earlier this week that he remains convinced that the Iran nuclear deal signed in 2015 works.
“If there is doubts about compliance of Iran, I think this is something that people can legitimately have. If there’s evidence of non-compliance, this evidence has to be transmitted by the existing mechanism at our supervising implementation, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action)," he said, adding that the deal was "based on the most robust, intrusive, complete verification system that any nuclear regime has ever produced.”
“I have to say that so far, the IAIE (International Atomic Energy Agency) has already issued ten reports since the implementation of the deal started and in all their reports they have certified the Iranian compliance with their obligations under the deal,” he said in an interview with Ynet.
Ynet interview with EU Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret (צילום: רועי עידן אלי סגל)
Netanyahu revealed Monday evening what he said was “conclusive proof” of a secret project underway in Iran for the development of a nuclear weapon—evidence that he said proved that Tehran had lied “big time” to the international community.
Asked how Iran can be trusted if Netanyahu's presentation showed that Iran had lied at the outset, Giaufret acknowledged that the agreement was never based on trust, accounting for its formulation in the first place.
European Union Ambassador to Israel Emanuele Giaufret (Photo: EU)
“I think that what we have to understand is that this system is not based on trust. It’s based on verification,” he said, speaking from the Eshkol Regional Council during a visit to the area.
Giaufret also maintained that its terms provided the most comprehensive scrutiny on the Islamic republic to ensure non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
PM Netanyahu gives presentation (Photo: AP)
“If there is doubts about compliance of Iran, I think this is something that people can legitimately have. If there’s evidence of non-compliance, this evidence has to be transmitted by the existing mechanism at our supervising implementation, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action)," he said, adding that the deal was "based on the most robust, intrusive, complete verification system that any nuclear regime has ever produced.”
Giaufret also denied the claim that only Europe was clinging to the notion that the deal was not a “bad deal”, while rejecting an accusation by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked that Europe was “burying its head in the sand.”
“I wouldn’t say that only Europe is saying the deal is functioning. I’ve heard many people say that the deal is not perfect but it does deliver some guarantees, some reassurance, mechanism based on unity of the international community,” he replied.
(Photo: AP)
“So of course we have different views with Israel on this but it’s important that we continue engaging with all the parties.
“I think we don't bury our heads in the sand. We understand the sensitivity of the issue and interests and concerns that these issues create in Israel and it’s perfectly understandable. “
Asked how Europe would respond if US President Donald Trump decides to withdraw from the deal on May 12, Giaufret urged patience. “Well, we’re not there yet. I think we are still waiting for a decision so I think it would be wrong to speculate on what the president will decide on 12 May.”
(Photo: AP)
The renewal of sanctions on Iran, he argued, would only undermine a deal that he says works.
“It was a deal negotiated painfully in many years and it went through ups and downs … We have something that works and I think it would be a mistake to throw it in the bin. I think it’s something that actually functions. This is why we think it’s worth keeping,” he reiterated.
Netanyahu’s presentation, however, would require a fresh assessment, the ambassador said. “At the moment we have made clear many times that we think it is working. This new element that has been presented a couple of days ago needs to be assessed by the professionals … but for the moment we have no indication that there was non-compliance.”
