Netanyahu: I Will Continue International Efforts Against Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated that he will not relent in international efforts against the 'bad and dangerous' nuclear agreement with Iran and will continue to oppose Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons 'by any means possible.' On Sunday, February 8, during his cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that Iran and the world powers will reach an agreement in the coming weeks. According to Netanyahu, Israel considers the upcoming agreement 'bad' because, as he claims, it 'poses a threat to Israel.' He mentioned that the main principles of this agreement will be established by the end of March. While Netanyahu cited the end of March as the timeline for reaching the outlines of a nuclear pact between Iran and the P5+1 countries, Iran and the negotiating countries emphasize that the outcome of the negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear file is still uncertain. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated on the same day after his second meeting in three days with his American counterpart, John Kerry, at the Munich Security Conference, that if an agreement is not reached by the end of June, 'it is not the end of the world' for Iran. Zarif emphasized that 'a peaceful nuclear program is in Iran's interests and does not endanger anyone or any country.' He also stated that Israel cannot justify its 'crimes' under the pretext of Iran's nuclear program. Simultaneously, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated in Tehran that he is 'in favor of an agreement that can be reached and that not reaching an agreement is better than one that contradicts the interests of the Iranian nation.' Khamenei also mentioned in his annual meeting with the Iranian Air Force personnel that 'Iran has temporarily halted the development of enrichment facilities, the production of 20% uranium, and the Arak and Fordow plants to reach an agreement, and therefore, the Iranian side has acted rationally; however, the other side is extorting.' Khamenei's clear and unprecedented remarks regarding specific actions taken by Iran to suspend part of its nuclear activities in pursuit of a final nuclear agreement come as Israel has requested the negotiating powers to 'implement the nuts and bolts of Iran's nuclear program.' Concurrently with Khamenei's speech in Tehran, Netanyahu reiterated in his cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that he must speak in the U.S. Congress 'to explain the dangers of this bad nuclear agreement with Iran.' He stated, 'It is an urgent matter that I must warn about as the Prime Minister of Israel.' Netanyahu's insistence on speaking in Congress comes at a time when Joe Biden, the U.S. Vice President, and several other Democratic allies of Barack Obama have stated they will not attend this speech. Obama has also previously said he would not meet with Netanyahu. Domestic criticism in Israel regarding Netanyahu's early March trip to the U.S. has intensified, with leaders of various parties urging him not to jeopardize the strategic and vital relations between Israel and the U.S. for his party's interests. Isaac Herzog, the leader of the Israeli Labor Party, stated during a speech at the Munich Security Conference that the Iranian nuclear crisis should be resolved peacefully under U.S. leadership and that it is Netanyahu's actions and statements that have endangered Israel and strained relations with the U.S. While senior U.S. officials are avoiding meetings with Netanyahu, Joe Biden met with Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, which has angered Netanyahu and his Likud party. Multiple articles in Israeli media have also raised the question to Netanyahu of whether a party speech before a Congress that will have several empty seats is worth risking vital relations between Israel and the U.S.