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Iran uranium enrichment plan aims to destroy Israel: Netanyahu
by Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) June 5, 2018

Iran 'preparing activities' in case nuclear deal fails
Vienna (AFP) June 6, 2018 - Iran said Wednesday it was in "preparatory works" to restart nuclear activities in the event of the failure of the 2015 accord between Iran and world powers.

In such a scenario, Iran could "restart its activities without any limits," Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the IAEA's board in Vienna.

The future of the deal -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- has been thrown into doubt after President Donald Trump announced last month that the US would withdraw from the accord and re-impose sanctions.

The preparatory works mentioned by Najafi refer to steps to boost uranium enrichment capacity by producing new centrifuges, as outlined on Tuesday by Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who heads the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation.

Najafi said that in addition Iran had notified the IAEA of a plan to restart activity at its uranium conversion facility in Isfahan to produce the UF6 feedstock for centrifuges.

The IAEA confirmed on Tuesday that it had "received a letter from Iran on 4 June informing the Agency that there is a tentative schedule to start production of UF6".

However, Najafi emphasised that the measures do "not mean that right now Iran will start any activities contrary to the JCPOA".

The remaining signatories to the pact have been scrambling to find ways to preserve the accord since Trump's announcement.

Last month a senior Iranian official said European powers had until the end of May to come up with an economic package to compensate Iran for the effects of the US withdrawal.

On Wednesday Najafi said that negotiations were still continuing at an expert level but that it could not be an "endless process" and needed to be concluded "very soon".

Asked about the IAEA's call for Iran to provide "timely and active cooperation" with the inspections mandated under the JCPOA, Najafi said that Iran had interpreted this as encouragement to extend voluntary invitations to the agency to conduct inspections.

However he said that "while Iran is not benefiting from the deal, no one should expect Iran to implement... voluntary measures".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the Iranian plan to increase its nuclear enrichment capacity was aimed at producing nuclear weapons to be used against Israel.

"Two days ago, Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, stated his intention to destroy the State of Israel," Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media.

"Yesterday he explained how he would do it -- by unlimited enrichment of uranium to create an arsenal of nuclear bombs."

"We're not surprised," Netanyahu said in the video from Paris, where he was to meet French President Emmanuel Macron.

"We won't let Iran obtain nuclear weapons."

Iran on Monday notified the International Atomic Energy Agency of its plan to open a centre for the production of new centrifuges to be used for uranium enrichment, according to the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, Ali Akbar Salehi.

Salehi stressed the announcement did not mean they will start assembling the centrifuges, and "does not violate the (2015 nuclear) agreement" between Tehran and world powers.

Under the 2015 agreement, Iran can build parts for the centrifuges as long as it does not put them into operation within the first decade.

On Sunday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel a "malignant cancerous tumour" that should be removed.

Netanyahu was visiting European leaders to discuss Iran's regional involvement and nuclear programme, both seen by the Jewish state as grave threats.

European powers have been scrambling to preserve the 2015 nuclear deal since US President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the treaty last month.

Israel calls for 'military coalition' if Iran boosts enrichment
Jerusalem (AFP) June 5, 2018 - Israel's intelligence minister called Tuesday for a military coalition against Iran if the Islamic Republic were to defy world powers by enriching military-grade uranium.

Yisrael Katz's remarks came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began visiting European leaders to discuss Iran's regional involvement and nuclear programme, both seen by the Jewish state as grave threats.

European powers have been scrambling to preserve a landmark deal over Tehran's nuclear programme since US President Donald Trump announced Washington's withdrawal from the treaty in May.

Katz addressed Tehran's threat to restart uranium enrichment at an "industrial level" if the 2015 pact falls apart.

"If the Iranians don't surrender now, and try to return" to unsupervised uranium enrichment, "there should be a clear statement by the President of the United States and all of the Western coalition," he said.

"The Arabs and Israel surely would be there too."

The message should be that "if the Iranians return" to enriching uranium that could enable them to build a nuclear bomb, "a military coalition will be formed against them," Katz told Israeli public radio station Kan.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday warned European leaders to drop their "dream" of Tehran continuing to curb its nuclear programme despite renewed economic sanctions.

He also called Israel a "malignant cancerous tumour" that should be removed.

The Iran deal paved the way for the partial lifting of international sanctions against the country, in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme for several years.

Israel argues the lifting of sanctions under the nuclear deal allowed Iran to expand its presence in the Middle East, both through its own forces and with proxy groups.

It also says the time limits on the accord do not guarantee Iran will not eventually obtain nuclear weapons, while it also wants to see restrictions on Iranian missile development.

Iran denies the pursuit of an atomic programme for military purposes.

In his Monday meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Netanyahu warned that Iran was "seeking nuclear weapons to carry out its genocidal designs."

"It's important to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. We commit, and I commit again, that we will not let that happen," he said.

Netanyahu will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday and British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday.


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NUKEWARS
Netanyahu heads to Europe seeking about-face on Iran
Berlin (AFP) June 4, 2018
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks Monday on a three-day European tour in Germany set to be dominated by strategic differences on Iran, as leaders attempt to rescue the nuclear deal after US withdrawal. With partners in Berlin, Paris and London still reeling from President Donald Trump's decision last month to exit the hard-fought 2015 accord, Netanyahu is expected to seek European cooperation on a still-to-be-determined Plan B. "The aim to prevent Iran from developing any kind of ... read more

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