US, Europe, Iran react to Netanyahu's attack on Iran deal

World

Published: 2018-05-01 12:09

Last Updated: 2024-04-16 12:45


Benjamin Netanyahu during his presentation on Israeli TV.
Benjamin Netanyahu during his presentation on Israeli TV.

Tehran, Washington and Europe have reacted to Benjamin Netanyahu’s prime-time tactical presentation on Israeli TV on Monday where he claimed Iran had violated the nuclear deal.

In his presentation, Netanyahu displayed a filing cabinet that contained what he claimed to be 55,000 pages and 55,000 electronic files of evidence that Iran is lying about never having nuclear weapons and continued to preserve and expand their capabilities. The files were obtained by Israeli intelligence from a vault in Tehran a few months ago.

Netanyahu continued to say that the Iran deal was based on lies and deceptions and directly addressed the US president at the end of his presentation “In a few days time, President Trump will make his decision on the deal,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll do the right thing.”

According to US law, Trump has to decide by May 12 whether to keep lifting the sanctions on Iran as the deal requires. Trump addressed Netanyahu’s presentation by saying he had not decided on the Iran deal yet “even though some people thought they knew” what his decision was.

Secretary Pompeo on Monday was on his way back from a trip to Riyadh, Jerusalem and Amman and had discussed the documents with Netanyahu, Reuters reported. He maintained that the material will help understand the scope of operations despite acknowledging the Amad nuclear project was no news.

Iran’s Foreign Minister was quick to dismiss the allegations and compared Netanyahu to “the boy who cried wolf” in an in a tweet “Pres. Trump is jumping on a rehash of old allegations already dealt with by the IAEA to “nix” the deal. How convenient. Coordinated timing of alleged intelligence revelations by the boy who cries wolf just days before May 12. But Trump’s impetuousness to celebrate blew the cover.”

Germany and Britain both defended the Iran deal. A German spokesperson defended the Iran deal by for its “unprecedented, thorough and robust surveillance system,” and asserted that it was implemented precisely because the international community had doubts about Iran’s nuclear proliferation.

A British spokesperson called it “One of the most extensive and robust in the history of international nuclear accords,” asserting that it was vital to verify Iran’s adherence, according to Reuters.