Netanyahu: 'The Tehran-Lausanne-Sanaa Axis' is Dangerous for All Humanity

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated on Sunday, April 9, that the 'Tehran-Lausanne-Sanaa axis' is 'very dangerous for all humanity and must be stopped.' Netanyahu's remarks referred to the ongoing negotiations between Iran and world powers in Lausanne, Switzerland, regarding Iran's nuclear program, and the current military crisis in Yemen. Iran is accused of supporting the Houthi militants in Yemen. According to Israel Radio, Netanyahu said in Jerusalem that 'while Iran is striving to achieve military nuclear capability, it seeks to dominate the Bab al-Mandab strait by supporting certain regional forces.' The Israeli Prime Minister added that 'Iran, with a pincer movement from the south, wants to subjugate the entire Middle East.' Netanyahu also noted that 'after Iran's dominance over the Beirut-Damascus-Baghdad axis, we are now facing the Tehran-Lausanne-Sanaa axis, which could change the balance of ship movements in maritime waterways and oil supply.' Observers suggest that Netanyahu's comments regarding the Yemen crisis could be seen as implicit support for Saudi Arabia's air operations in Yemen against Iranian-backed militants. In his Sunday remarks, Netanyahu also labeled the nuclear agreement currently being discussed by senior representatives of Iran and the P5+1 in Lausanne as a 'dangerous agreement' and claimed that a deal is being drafted that 'confirms all of Israel's concerns.' He stated, 'From what Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, has tweeted, it appears that the nuclear agreement between Iran and the powers is being implemented.' Netanyahu expressed regret over the agreement, stating that they want to sign it at any cost. The Israeli Prime Minister also mentioned that he had just come from a meeting with Senator Harry Reid, the Senate Democratic leader, and had secured a promise that Congress would prevent a bad nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, who has had multiple meetings with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Switzerland in recent days, has informed Netanyahu twice by phone about the latest developments in the nuclear negotiations with Iran. Israel continues to view Iran's nuclear program as a 'vital' threat, but Iran has rejected these longstanding claims from Israeli governments, asserting that Israel, with its own military nuclear capability, lacks the legitimacy to comment on Iran's nuclear program. Benjamin Netanyahu, who won the general elections two weeks ago and is tasked with forming a new Israeli government, has stated that 'confronting Iran's nuclear program will be the top priority of his new government.'