What the German chancellor and the Israeli prime minister said from Berlin
The German chancellor Olaf Solz dashed hopes of a deal on Iran’s nuclear program “in the near future”, while Israel favored a “credible military threat” to increase pressure on Tehran.
Solz said today from Berlin, during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, that “he regrets that Iran has not yet responded positively to the proposals of the European coordinators”.
“There is no reason why Iran should not accept these proposals. But we have to note that this is happening and that there will be no (deal) in the immediate future,” the German chancellor remarked during a press conference.
After a year and a half of talks aimed at saving the 2015 international agreement, from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018, Germany, Britain and France expressed “serious doubts” on Saturday about Iran’s true will.
In a statement, the three European countries accused her Tehran that it “continues to escalate its nuclear program beyond what could be considered to be intended for political purposes”.
Iran, which insists its nuclear program is purely peaceful, dismissed the announcement as “unconstructive”, but Lapid, who opposes saving the 2015 deal, welcomed it.
“Military threat”
According to the Israeli prime minister, these negotiations are headed for “failure” and “will not achieve the goal we all share: to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.”
“The whole world is asking us: what will be next?” The time has come to talk with the Americans and the Europeans (…) to put on the table a credible military threat against Iran with the aim of pressuring it towards a better deal”, pointed out a high-ranking Israeli diplomatic official on the sidelines of his visit to Berlin.
Tehran recently once again called for his investigation to be closed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about traces of enriched uranium found at three undeclared facilities, something the agency’s director, Rafael Grossi, has refused to do.
“This latest request raises serious doubts about Iran’s intentions and its commitment to a positive outcome regarding the JCPOA,” the three European countries noted on Saturday. “Iran’s stance is not in line with its legally binding obligations and undermines the prospects of restoring the JCPOA”, which was signed by the five permanent members of the UN Council (USA, France, Britain, China, Russia), Germany and Iran.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken commented on Friday from Brussels that Iran’s latest response to the negotiations was a “backward step”.
Lapid traveled to Paris this summer to discuss the sensitive issue of Iran’s nuclear program with French President Emmanuel Macron, and has also held talks with the leaders of the US, Britain and Germany.
Israel is concerned that, should the deal be revived, the lifting of sanctions on Iran would increase revenues for Tehran, which could use the money to bolster its support for Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Palestinian Authority’s Hamas and other pro-Iranian groups.
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