Israel’s Lapid Urges US to Scrap Iran Nuclear Deal Talks

The Israelis are stepping up their efforts to kill the deal as the US and Iran appear close to an agreement

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid urged the US and the EU to quit negotiations with Iran aimed at reviving the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, as Washington and Tehran appear to be close to an agreement.

The Israeli leader claimed that lifting sanctions on Iran would give the Islamic Republic $100 billion “that will be used to undermine stability in the Middle East and spread terror around the globe.”

Lapid also claimed that the deal would not prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon even though the JCPOA sets strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program. “In our eyes, it does not meet the standards set by President Biden himself: preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear state,” he said.

Also on Wednesday, Iran said it received Washington’s response to an EU proposal to revive the JCPOA, which Tehran is now reviewing. A US official said earlier this week that reaching an agreement is closer since Iran made some concessions.

In light of the diplomacy between the US and Iran, Israel is stepping up its efforts to kill the deal. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz is heading to the US on Thursday, where he will meet with the head of US Central Command. Gantz will then travel to Washington to hold talks with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Gantz on Tuesday said that Israel will do “everything it can” to stop the JCPOA from being restored. Israeli officials have previously threatened military action against Iran if the deal is revived, and Israel frequently carries out covert attacks inside the Islamic Republic.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.