BICOM

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next Wednesday to brief him on developments in nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany). The talks are aimed to resolve international concerns that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

Ashton’s visit comes ahead of the second round of talks with Iran, which will begin on 23 May in Baghdad. Ashton is expected to give Netanyahu an overview of the first round of talks, which took place in Istanbul last month, and the preparations being made for the second round.

The visit reflects a clear concern on the part of the international community to keep Israel in the loop on the issue, and to reassure Israel about their determination to stop Iran acquiring the capacity for nuclear weapons. Israeli leaders have suggested that they will have to decide in a matter of months whether to take military action against Iranian nuclear facilities, if talks fail.

Netanyahu is opposed to a deal which would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium. He is also reportedly concerned that Iran will secure a pledge for a suspension of sanctions, including the European oil embargo scheduled to go into effect 1 July, in exchange for a partial freeze on uranium enrichment. This would significantly relieve pressure on Iran.

After the first round of talks in Istanbul last month, Netanyahu accused the P5+1 of giving Iran a “freebie” by providing it with more time to enrich uranium, before the second round of talks. US President Barack Obama quickly rejected this claim. Iran is in breach of numerous binding UN Security Council resolutions which require it to cease all uranium enrichment and cooperate with the IAEA.