Netanyahu: Iran Still Seeking to Build Nuclear Weapons

Israel’s Prime Minister says he possesses “new information and conclusive evidence” demonstrating that Iran has maintained its nuclear weapons program despite its claims to the contrary.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, delivered a televised address on Monday evening (April 30/May 10) at Israel’s Ministry of Defense regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Netanyahu stated that Iran has secretly maintained an extensive research program for building an atomic bomb in the future. He revealed the existence of a “secret atomic archive” in Tehran that Israeli security services have discovered. Netanyahu said: “Iran has lied.”

Israel’s Prime Minister showed reporters present at the Ministry of Defense building several folders and CDs, claiming that Israeli security services obtained 55,000 pages and 55,000 digital files containing information about Iran’s nuclear program in a covert operation.

Netanyahu called the international community’s nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015 a “terrible agreement” and said it should never have been signed because, according to him, “this agreement is based on lies”.

Israel’s Prime Minister further stated before the media that Iran, using materials it concealed after signing the nuclear agreement (JCPOA), could build five atomic bombs with the power of the bomb that fell on Hiroshima.

Netanyahu added that Iran has planned at the highest levels to advance its nuclear program. He said his information about Iran’s nuclear program has been confirmed by the United States of America.

Israel’s Prime Minister emphasized: “When Iran said it never had a nuclear bomb-building program, it lied.”

According to Netanyahu, Iran’s leaders have hidden documents related to their atomic program to resume it at an appropriate time; Tehran’s goal is to equip its long-range missiles with atomic bombs.

Israel’s Prime Minister announced that he intends to place his documents and evidence regarding Iran’s atomic program at the disposal of other countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency. He added that he has provided his information to the United States of America.

Netanyahu met with Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, yesterday (Sunday, April 29) and discussed Iran and the atomic agreement with that country. After meeting with Pompeo, he also spoke by phone with Donald Trump.

In less than two weeks, the U.S. President is scheduled to make a decision on whether to remain in the JCPOA.

In recent days, European countries made significant efforts to convince Donald Trump not to withdraw from the JCPOA. Including Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, traveled to Washington to attempt to prevent U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA through face-to-face negotiations.

Nevertheless, it appears that European leaders are not particularly optimistic about the results of their negotiations.

Benjamin Netanyahu, in his remarks today, by accusing the leaders of the Islamic Republic of lying, moved to welcome the possible decision of the U.S. President to withdraw from the JCPOA and spoke in a way that suggested certainty about his decision to withdraw from the JCPOA.

Iranian Officials’ Response to Netanyahu’s Remarks

Two Iranian officials responded to Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel’s Prime Minister’s, remarks. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, called the documents presented by Netanyahu “fake and fabricated”.

Araghchi said: “That Netanyahu is staging this performance ten days before Trump announces his decision on the JCPOA makes it clear this is a designed theatrical show to influence Trump’s decision or they are seeking to fabricate a scenario to destroy the JCPOA.”

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized: “We are ready for all scenarios, but the mere substance of these claims and actions shows to what extent the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are concerned and angered by the JCPOA and the conditions this agreement has created for Iran.”

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Foreign Minister himself, even before Netanyahu’s speech began, tweeted that Israel’s Prime Minister “wants to speak lies and falsehoods again about Iran’s nuclear program”.

Source: DW