PM Lapid talks Iran deal with President Biden
Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke on Wednesday evening with President Joe Biden, a long-anticipated conversation that focused on the renewed nuclear deal the Biden administration is about to sign with Iran.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid talks with President Joe Biden
A statement by Lapid’s office said that the two “spoke at length about the negotiations on a nuclear agreement, and their shared commitment to stopping Iran’s progress towards a nuclear weapon.”
They also discussed “recent events as well as Iran’s terrorist activity in the Middle East and beyond.” Lapid emphasized the importance of the US’ recent strikes against Iranian targets in Syria.
Biden “emphasized his deep commitment to the security of the State of Israel, and to preserving Israel’s capability to deter its enemies and to defend itself by itself against any threat.”
Israeli officials say that the nuclear agreement that is taking shape is a bad one, and Israel does not see itself committed to it and will continue to work for its security and curbing Iran’s nuclear efforts.
Lapid held a briefing for foreign correspondents last Wednesday at said that “Israel is not against any agreement. We are against this agreement, because it is a bad one. Because it cannot be accepted as it is written right now.”
He warned that the “bad deal” will “give Iran a hundred billion dollars a year. This money will not build schools or hospitals. This is a hundred billion dollars a year that will be used to undermine stability in the Middle East and spread terror around the globe. This money will fund the Revolutionary Guards. It will fund the Basij who oppress the Iranian people. It will fund more attacks on American bases in the Middle East. It will be used to strengthen Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad.”
Similarly, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Al-Arabiya news that the pending nuclear agreement with Iran “will endanger not only Israel, but also threaten the Arab world and the peace of all humanity.”
The world is now waiting for Iran’s response to the latest text of the nuclear deal. Iran is studying the US responses received via the European Union coordinator. The EU proposed a final text, which the Iranians commented on, the US responded to, and now the Iranians are studying again.
