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Media Summary

16/07/2015

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The fallout from Tuesday’s agreement between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) regarding Iran’s nuclear development continues. The Guardian online includes an analysis of reaction in Israel, emphasising that although the accord is roundly condemned across the political spectrum, some have pointed a finger at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to prevent it. In the Independent and Independent i, Donald MacIntyre suggests that Netanyahu would do well to now cut his losses and leverage the deal to shore up relations with Washington and secure further military aid. The Financial Times reports that Netanyahu launched a Twitter handle in Farsi in order to make his voice heard among the Iranian public.

The Daily Mirror and the online editions of the Guardian, Independent and Telegraph all report that Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond told the House of Commons yesterday that the UK hopes to re-open its embassy in Tehran this year. Some reports also mention that Hammond will visit Israel today to discuss the nuclear deal with Netanyahu, while the Independent online highlights Hammond’s contention yesterday to Parliament, that Israel prefers a “permanent stand-off” with Iran.

The Telegraph and Guardian both cover US President Obama’s lengthy televised address yesterday, in which he defended the deal, arguing that the only other option is a likely regional war. The Telegraph says that Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer has launched his own public critique of the accord. The Times reports that senior US military leaders, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Martin Dempsey has warned of the danger that lifting Iranian sanctions will increase Tehran’s military ambitions and support for terror. The Independent and Independent i report from Iraq, where Shia fighters apparently believe that the nuclear deal will herald closer US-Iranian military cooperation to fight ISIS. The Financial Times suggests that American focus will now shift towards a “calculation” that relative prosperity will embolden moderate forces in Iran during the coming years.

The Independent quotes an unnamed Saudi Arabian official, who says that lifting Iranian sanctions will merely enable Tehran to increase instability in Syria and further support terror, which could even reach Britain.

The Financial Times says that the nuclear deal will pave the way for a boost to Iran’s oil, gas, car and aviation industries. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online predicts a boon for Iranian tourism.

Writing in the Daily Express, Leo McKinistry says that the nuclear accord “will do little” to stop Iran’s long-term nuclear ambitions, while at the same time fuelling “a new regional arms race, promote terrorism and menace Israel.”

In other news, the Guardian reports that files uncovered by Edward Snowden reveal that US intelligence believes Israel assassinated a senior Syrian military official in 2008, who was thought to be responsible for weapons transfers to Hezbollah and aspects of Syria’s nuclear programme.

In the Israeli media, the focus continues on this week’s Iran nuclear deal. Both Yediot Ahronot and Maariv headline US President Obama’s speech yesterday in which he said that the alternative to the accord was the likelihood of war and that the deal’s opponents proposed no other credible option. Israel Hayom focuses on a pledge from Prime Minister Netanyahu that opposition to the agreement will continue. There is also speculation in both Israel Hayom and Haaretz that Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog’s display of unified opposition alongside Netanyahu over the nuclear deal is a prelude to Zionist Union joining the coalition. Haaretz suggests that President Reuven Rivlin is already mediating between the two sides.

Israel Radio and Israel Hayom both highlight today’s visit to Israel by Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond, who will discuss the nuclear deal with both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Herzog, who is leader of the opposition.

Israel Radio news this morning also reports that a rocket from the Gaza Strip was fired overnight into southern Israel, without causing any injuries or damage. Israel’s Air Force responded swiftly targeting the source of fire.