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Netanyahu warns Iran nuclear agreement ‘fundamentally flawed’ as deadline nears

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With just days until the deadline to conclude a deal over Iran’s nuclear development, Israel’s Prime Minister warned yesterday that the agreement under discussion falls short of the red lines set by the international community.

Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) agreed a framework to a comprehensive nuclear deal in April, paving the way for negotiations to begin towards a long-term accord, which must be agreed by next Tuesday. US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to travel to Vienna today for the final phase of talks. However, both sides have since indicated differences over fundamental issues such as Iran’s use of advanced centrifuges, the pace of sanctions relief and provision for international inspections.

Earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei appeared to toughen his stance on such issues in a televised speech. He said, “Inspection of our military sites is out of the question,” and also ruled out limiting Iranian nuclear research while insisting that all sanctions be lifted immediately once an agreement is reached.

Netanyahu yesterday warned that the deal taking shape is inadequate. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for air force pilots, he said that, “Even if in the next few days Iran gives up on some of those demands” made by Khamenei, “the basic concessions made by the world powers would be enormous and would be a significant retreat from red lines they publicly set before.” Netanyahu described the current deal as “fundamentally flawed” and said that, “Whatever happens, Israel will always defend itself.” However, he emphasised “It’s still not too late [for the P5+1] to come to their senses, to insist on a good agreement and it’s certainly not too late not to advance a bad agreement.”

Reuters reports that Kerry telephoned Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif yesterday and insisted that Tehran must disclose its past nuclear activities. Kerry said that recent remarks he made indicating that such disclosure might not be necessary had been misinterpreted.