Israel expressed deep suspicion on Tuesday about an expected deal between the U.N. nuclear agency and Iran, suggesting Tehran\’s aim was to wriggle out of sanctions rather than make real concessions ahead of wider atomic talks with world powers.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief held rare talks in Tehran on Monday after voicing hope for a deal to investigate suspected atomic bomb research – a gesture Iran might make to try to get international sanctions relaxed and deflect threats of war.
Iran is likely to use talks planned with world powers next week to buy more time for advancing its disputed nuclear program and it is \”very good at playing this kind of chess game,\” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution that rejects containment of a nuclear Iran.
The RAND Corporation, a think tank which advises the Pentagon, warned on Tuesday against an Israeli or American attack on Iran\’s nuclear reactors, and recommended the Obama administration try to \”quietly influence the internal Israeli discussion over the use of military force.\”
New satellite imagery analyzed by a U.S. security think tank shows that Iran may be clearing nuclear evidence from a building at a military site.
Israel still has time to strike Iran and the right to decide for itself whether to do so, Vice President Joe Biden said.
Iran\’s nuclear strategy could eventually allow it to build an atomic bomb with just 60 days\’ notice, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Friday.
Preventing Iran from becoming preeminent in its region should guide all U.S. foreign policy, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said.
Israel\’s military chief said he does not believe Iran will decide to build an atomic bomb and called its leaders \”very rational\” – comments that clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\’s assessment.
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