Netanyahu: Iran Has Not Forgotten Its Nuclear Ambitions

Shortly after the conclusion of the JCPOA, the final nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long opposed this agreement and the negotiations with Iran, reacted by stating that "Iran has not forgotten its nuclear ambitions." Late on Saturday night, January 26, shortly after a press conference by the Iranian Foreign Minister and the EU's foreign policy chief in Vienna, Netanyahu's office issued a statement declaring that Israel would closely and thoroughly "monitor" Iran's compliance with the final nuclear agreement and would "warn of any violations." The statement from Netanyahu's office claims that after the implementation of the agreement and the lifting of sanctions against Iran, Tehran's regime will "continue to destabilize the Middle East and promote terrorism worldwide while violating international commitments." The statement also mentioned that "Israel will take any necessary action to defend itself and its security." In this statement, the Israeli Prime Minister advised world powers and the International Atomic Energy Agency to "closely monitor any activities at nuclear sites and other suspicious locations in Iran to ensure that Iran is not secretly working on producing a nuclear bomb." Netanyahu added, "Without proper accountability, Iran will be tempted to continue producing a nuclear bomb." According to the Jerusalem Post, Gilad Erdan, one of Netanyahu's ministers, also stated on Sunday, January 27, that with the commencement of the implementation of the nuclear agreement and the funds being made available to Iran, "we have entered a dangerous era." This Likud party minister claimed that Iran "continues to arm Hezbollah, Hamas, and other terrorist groups and will interfere in the affairs of the Gulf monarchies." Gilad Erdan also mentioned that today, Sunday, is a "difficult day" for the countries in the region. According to the Jerusalem Post, Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the UN, accused the International Atomic Energy Agency of providing an "optimistic" report about Iran, stating that these reports have blinded the international community to the realities of Iran's nuclear actions. The Jerusalem Post also reported that Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the "Israel Our Home" party, stated that simultaneously with the implementation of the nuclear agreement, the Islamic Republic of Iran is holding a Holocaust cartoon contest, symbolically indicating that "Iran denies the Holocaust and the international community is living in delusion." Lieberman claimed that the Iranian nuclear agreement is akin to the 1938 Munich Agreement with Nazi Germany, which encouraged Adolf Hitler a year later to begin World War II. The implementation of the nuclear agreement and the lifting of some sanctions against Iran occurs while the Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly stated in the UN, the US Congress, and other global forums that Iran is pursuing a nuclear bomb through its nuclear program and "seeks the destruction of Israel." Netanyahu clashed with the Obama administration over the US and other world powers' negotiations with Iran, and the agreement reached on July 15 of last year. The US President was long unwilling to meet with Netanyahu. However, Israel has recently received significant financial compensation from the US regarding the Iranian nuclear agreement and is set to see a more than one-third increase in US military aid, including the most advanced bombers and weaponry transferred to the Israeli army, for another ten-year period starting in 2017. The Israeli opposition, which is significantly weaker compared to Netanyahu and the ruling party, despite criticizing this government for creating tensions in relations with the US over Iran, like Netanyahu and his government, expresses "concern" about the nuclear agreement and the lifting of sanctions against Iran. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated on Sunday, January 27, in remarks to the Iranian parliament that "only Zionists, war hawks, and American extremists are worried about the lifting of sanctions against Iran." However, Israeli media have also noted that Robert Levinson, an American Jewish citizen who disappeared in Iran a decade ago, was not among those whom the US sought to free in the deal with Iran on Saturday. In this context, the appointment of a new Israeli envoy for "negotiating with Iran" over the oil complaint, the US Congress's inquiry regarding "eavesdropping" on conversations with Israelis, and Israel's call for further investigations by the agency into Iran's nuclear program have been highlighted.