After Iran Strategy Meeting, Israel’s Netanyahu Rails Against Nuclear Deal

While Israel is strategizing on how to approach the Biden administration’s Iran policy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a scathing speech against the Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday.

“We do not place our trust in any agreement with an extremist regime like yours,” Netanyahu said, addressing Iranian leaders. He said Israel will do “whatever is necessary” to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu claims the JCPOA will lead to Iran developing a nuclear bomb. But a revival of the deal would only lead to Iran reducing the activity of its civilian nuclear program. And Iranian officials have repeated again and again that the development of nuclear weapons is forbidden in Iran by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Monday, Israeli officials discussed their Iran strategy. Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz agreed to present a united front to the Americans even though the two are facing off in another election come March.

While they are making their opposition to the JCPOA clear, the Israelis are hoping they don’t strain personal relations between Netanyahu and President Biden. To do this, an Israeli official told Reuters that any misgivings Israel has will be relayed by Netanyahu’s National Security Council to the counterpart National Security Council in the White House.

Israel’s efforts not to strain ties with Biden have not stopped Netanyahu and other officials from publicly speaking out against the JCPOA. Last week, after the US said it was ready for talks with Iran, Netanyahu released a statement warning against a revival of the deal.