BICOM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin yesterday for talks focused on Iran.

At a joint press conference of the two leaders, Netanyahu called Iran “the greatest challenge that the civilised world faces today,” citing the regime’s role in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen. He also stressed the Israeli position that Iran “must not be allowed to have a foothold” in Syria. “Iranian military presence right now in Syria includes about 18,000 Shiite militia… Iran wants to increase the number of such militia to 80,000,” he added.

Merkel agreed that “the question of Iran’s regional influence is worrying, especially for Israel’s security,” but defended the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement. She noted that Tehran had been “on the brink of having a nuclear weapon” before the deal was signed and said that “Iran’s activities are [now] under control”. Merkel said with reference to relations with Israel: “We do not agree on everything. But we are friends, we are partners.” She also confirmed plans to visit Israel in October.

Netanyahu hopes to persuade the European signatories of the deal on this European tour that the JCPOA should be abandoned and confirmed during the press conference that Israel had shared “the information that we retrieved from a secret [Iranian] atomic archive” with Germany.

Netanyahu will meet French President Emmanuel Macron today, before arriving in London tomorrow for meetings with UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.