Yaalon: If the Lausanne Understanding is the Basis for the Final Agreement, the Likelihood of War Increases

Moshe Yaalon, Israel's Defense Minister, claimed in an article published on Wednesday that if the recent understanding from Switzerland becomes the basis for a final nuclear agreement between Iran and global powers, the likelihood of war will increase. General Yaalon stated in this article, published on Wednesday, April 8, in the American newspaper Washington Post, that the Lausanne understanding in Switzerland, if it becomes the basis for the final nuclear agreement, will preserve Iran's nuclear infrastructure and shorten Iran's 'breakout time' to build a nuclear bomb. 'Breakout time' refers to the time frame for accumulating the necessary nuclear materials to construct a nuclear bomb. Yaalon wrote that Israel is not opposed to a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, but its opposition is based on a bad agreement that arises from the recent understanding in Switzerland. According to Yaalon, his country does not 'want war', but wants to make it clear to the world that if the provisions of the framework reached in Lausanne are not amended in the final agreement, Iran will become stronger and wealthier, and in that case, 'Iran will head towards a nuclear bomb', which would strengthen the option of war. He expressed serious concern about the possibility of lifting or reducing sanctions against Iran, stating that it took a long time to establish sanctions and wait for them to be effective, and this opportunity should not be easily lost. In addition to Iran's nuclear program, Yaalon also considered Iran's long-range missile program a threat to Israel and expressed dissatisfaction that global powers have not been able to make this issue part of the nuclear negotiations agenda. The Israeli Defense Minister also called for global powers to address Iran's 'regional aggressions'. At the same time, Ehud Barak, former Israeli Defense Minister, in an interview with the American network CNBC on Wednesday, April 8, said that the U.S. must clearly and decisively tell Iranian leaders that 'either they abandon their nuclear ambitions or...'. The phrase that Barak did not finish could imply 'woe to them'. According to Barak, the U.S. has military power and strong options against Iran and can even provide the necessary means to destroy 'Iran's nuclear military plans' 'overnight'. Barak also added that fundamentally, no agreement has yet been reached between Iran and the powers regarding Iran's nuclear program, and the U.S. is unnecessarily complicating itself by explaining the recent understanding from Switzerland, engaging in a fictitious matter that does not yet exist. Meanwhile, Barak criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for clashing with President Barack Obama, stating that U.S. support for Israel during Obama's presidency has been 'unprecedented' and he has 'complete confidence in President Obama's firm commitment to Israel's security'. Israel has stated that it will make the utmost effort in the coming months, especially through the U.S. Congress, to prevent the recent understanding from Switzerland from becoming the basis for a final agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries. Iran and global powers have three months to reach a final nuclear agreement following this understanding. Israel claims that the Swiss understanding did not impose the necessary strictures on Iran's nuclear program. The Jewish state, which has been a military nuclear power with over two hundred nuclear warheads for decades, has called Iran's nuclear program the 'greatest threat' to its existence and has previously stated that it will not settle for less than 'the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program'. However, Barack Obama and senior U.S. officials have supported the Swiss understanding, stating that Israel overlooks the significant concessions Iran has made. John Brennan, the CIA director, on Tuesday, April 7, alluded to the Israeli government's stubbornness against the Swiss understanding, stating that critics are 'hypocrites' who 'do not know the facts'.