Haaretz: Israeli Atomic Energy Commission Supports Iran Agreement

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, citing a source close to a commission advising the Israeli government on nuclear matters, reports that from this commission's perspective, the agreement reached on July 14 with Iran could potentially prevent the country from acquiring nuclear weapons. This informed source made the statement in an interview with Haaretz on October 21. According to the report, the Atomic Energy Commission serves as an advisor to the Israeli government on nuclear issues. The viewpoint expressed is in stark contrast to the views and positions of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, who is one of the staunchest critics of the agreement with Iran. However, the Prime Minister himself stated in mid-October that the issue of the agreement is settled, and from now on, attention should be paid to Iran's compliance with its commitments. The 'technical' implementation of the nuclear agreement is a subject that, according to Haaretz, the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission has defended. The commission claims that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, with access to Iran's nuclear facilities, can easily ascertain what has occurred there. For instance, it has been stated that Iran will have a 24-day opportunity to direct inspectors to the desired facility once they decide to visit a site. According to Haaretz, the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission asserts that the agency's technical capabilities allow inspectors to analyze events from several years ago at a nuclear facility, and the 24-day deadline does not pose a problem for them. The commission has also defended structural changes at the Arak facility. According to a news source close to the advisory group, changes at the Arak heavy water facility could prevent the potential construction of plutonium weapons. Iran has consistently emphasized that the aim of its nuclear program is peaceful and that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, a claim that some countries, particularly Israel, view with skepticism. The Israeli Atomic Energy Commission states that any potential efforts by Iran at the Arak facility cannot escape the attention of experienced IAEA inspectors. They have also stated that allowing the operation of more than five thousand centrifuges at the Fordow and Natanz facilities under the agreement with Iran is not the best possible situation, but even if Iran were to produce uranium nuclear weapons, it would not pose a specific threat to Israel. This is because a potential uranium warhead is very heavy, and Iran's technical capabilities for launching such a warhead are still very rudimentary, and Tehran does not possess a missile capable of carrying such a bomb. The Israeli Atomic Energy Commission has emphasized that the position presented in Haaretz's report has not been officially stated by any of its officials. Iran and six world powers reached an agreement on July 14 in Vienna that, on one hand, limits Tehran's nuclear program while, on the other hand, provides a way out of international sanctions. In this context, Netanyahu: Israel does not consider itself committed to the Iran nuclear agreement; Hosseinian: If I had the power, I would bury Salehi inside the Arak reactor; German Foreign Minister: Iran must be a responsible partner; US defense aid talks to Israel resume; WikiLeaks: Brennan had spoken about negotiating with Iran before becoming CIA director; Changing the game of 'proxy wars'; War against the people in the streets of Iran; First paragraph; Responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society; Death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis; Trump: I hope there is no need for further action regarding Iran; They were killing people recklessly; The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran'; Trump says if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, 'it will be wiped off the face of the earth'; Senior US official: The Trump administration is closely monitoring the case of Reza Valizadeh; Death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis.