Power: Iran’s compliance with deal – ‘strong’

Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal has been “strong,” U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power said during a visit to Israel on Monday. 

“What this deal does if implemented – and so far the implementation has been strong but it’s very early days – is it cuts off the pathways to a nuclear weapon and it gives us much more visibility into Iran’s [nuclear] program than we had before,” Power told students from more than 40 schools at the Israel Middle East Model UN Conference at the American International School in Even Yehuda. 

But Power cautioned that Iran’s sponsorship of global terrorism remains a threat to the region and the United States. “Iran, of course, is still a threat,” she said. “Iran is supporting terrorism. Iran is supporting parties to conflict like the Assad regime (in Syria).” 

During her speech, the U.S. Ambassador also pointed to the rejection of Israeli rescue volunteer organization, ZAKA, as proof of the United Nations, especially its Human Rights Council, singling out of Israel for criticism. “Bias has extended well beyond Israel as a country, Israel as an idea,” said Power. “Israel is just not treated like other countries.” 

Earlier Monday, Power met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin. Netanyahu “showed a video clip showing Palestinian incitement in schools, official PA media and by the leadership. He emphasized the direct connection between incitement and the terrorism and violence, and called on the international community to demand that the PA stop the incitement,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.