BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Iran has gained much but given little in negotiations over its nuclear programme and that the Tehran regime remains unchanged.

His comments at the start of yesterday’s cabinet meeting came prior to talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) over Tehran’s long-term nuclear development in Vienna tomorrow. In November, the two sides agreed a six-month deal under which Iran halted its development of 20 per cent enriched uranium in return for limited sanctions relief. However, Iran was not required to dismantle any of its centrifuges, leaving the infrastructure for atomic development in place.

Speaking yesterday, Netanyahu commented that, “Until now, it must be said, it is Iran which has gained without giving anything significant. It has received a major easing of sanctions and the Iranian economy is already responding appropriately. “He also said that the nature of the Iranian regime remained unchanged, commenting, “Inside Iran, it is executing innocent people. Outside Iran, it supports the continued killings by the Syrian regime, which would be unable to act without it … Iran is also continuing to arm terrorist organizations with advanced, deadly weapons and, of course, it is continuing to call for the destruction of the State of Israel.”

Netanyahu also said that Israel will continue “to demand the dismantling of Iran’s enrichment capacity. Iran does not need any centrifuges for nuclear power for civilian purposes.” He warned that despite the upcoming round of talks, “Iran is continuing with advanced research and development of centrifuges. Iran is not prepared to concede even one centrifuge.”

In an interview with the New Yorker last month, US President Barack Obama predicted that the talks between the international community and Iran have a less than 50 per cent chance of success.