Israeli Minister Calls for Extension of Nuclear Negotiations with Iran

The Israeli minister responsible for the Iran dossier, during a visit to Washington, discussed the latest developments in the nuclear negotiations between world powers and Iran with American officials and called for an extension of the deadline for these negotiations. June 30 has been set as the final deadline for the nuclear talks between the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany, known as the 5+1 group, and Iran. However, Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, stated during his visit to the U.S. that 'extending the negotiations three or four times is better than signing a half-baked agreement.' In an interview with the American newspaper Wall Street Journal published on Friday, June 15, he said that the agreement currently being drafted in Vienna based on the Lausanne understanding allows Iran to become a 'nuclear power' (military). According to Steinitz, sufficient guarantees must be obtained for inspections of Iran's military sites, and Iran should not be allowed to research on more advanced centrifuge equipment. This member of the Likud party and ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel's views during his meeting on Friday with Ernest Moniz, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, who played a significant role in advancing talks with Iran alongside Secretary of State John Kerry in previous rounds of nuclear negotiations in Europe. On Thursday, June 14, Steinitz also met with Jacob Lew, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and called for the continuation of sanctions against Iran and preventing the collapse of the sanctions regime. Steinitz was previously the Minister of Strategic Affairs and 'responsible for the Iran dossier' in Netanyahu's previous government, but despite being assigned another ministry in Netanyahu's new government, Israeli media reported that due to his years of involvement with Iran affairs, he still holds the responsibility for the 'Iran dossier.' Meanwhile, Reuters reported on June 14, citing a senior Israeli military official, that the military intelligence forces view a 'clear' nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers positively. This view contrasts with Netanyahu's stance, who has been opposed to a final nuclear agreement with Iran for months. Additionally, Israeli media noted in recent days that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his other officials have not reacted to Barack Obama's explicit statements regarding the final agreement with Iran and preferred silence. However, according to the Wall Street Journal, Steinitz stated in his interview that Israel 'will not remain silent' regarding the agreement being drafted with Iran, as this agreement poses 'a significant security risk for Israel.' In this context, an American official's negotiations with Israel regarding the prevention of nuclear weapon proliferation were described by an Israeli politician as 'hypocritical.' The increase in U.S. defense aid to Israel is attributed to the 'nuclear agreement with Iran.' Steinitz stated that an agreement with Iran without allowing inspections of military sites is a trick.