Israeli Minister of Intelligence's Conditions for Any Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, stated that any comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran must entail the complete elimination of Iran's uranium enrichment and plutonium production capabilities, as well as the cessation of missile cooperation between Iran and North Korea. According to the Jerusalem Post, Steinitz made these demands on Thursday, November 29, coinciding with the final days of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries. The deadline for the nuclear talks with Iran is set to end on December 3. The tenth round of these discussions is still ongoing in Vienna. Mr. Steinitz, who is responsible for the 'Iran file' in the Israeli government, once again expressed 'concern' over the possibility of reaching a 'bad deal' in the Vienna negotiations. Steinitz reiterated that a bad deal is one that leaves Iran on the brink of producing a nuclear bomb. According to the Israeli intelligence minister, 'If Iran can continue enriching uranium, it will be only two to three months away from producing a nuclear bomb.' Steinitz added that any 'escape route' in Iran's nuclear program that allows Tehran to achieve its goals must be blocked. Israel has long claimed that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at producing a nuclear bomb, a claim that Iran has consistently denied. Israel has referred to the temporary nuclear agreement known as the 'Joint Action' reached last year as a 'historic mistake' and has called for 'compensation' in the comprehensive nuclear agreement. Yuval Steinitz also stated that in the final nuclear agreement with Iran, the world must ensure that missile cooperation between Iran and North Korea or 'any other rogue regime' is halted. Israel claims that Iran's long-range missile program, initially based on some North Korean technologies, is being pursued with the aim of equipping missiles with nuclear warheads. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has previously emphasized that the country's missile program will never be on the nuclear negotiation table. Meanwhile, the Haaretz newspaper reported on Friday, November 30, that the Israeli military's assessment is that the current negotiations in Vienna will not lead to a final agreement, but rather an extension of the talks. Haaretz quoted a senior official in 'Aman,' the Israeli military intelligence agency, stating that the first scenario is that the temporary agreement will be extended for a few more months, but there is also the possibility that a document will outline the general agreements reached so far, with details to be discussed later. Israeli officials had previously recommended extending the negotiations with the aim of achieving a 'good and solid agreement.'