’Israel’ Worries Ahead of Nuclear Talks: Warns EU Against ’Bad Deal’ on Iran

Local Editor

"Israel's" Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz urged on Wednesday the European Union [EU] not to make a "bad deal" with Iran over its nuclear program, ahead of crucial talks.

"We are deeply concerned ... we feel the negotiation is going in the wrong direction," he added, without elaborating.

Steinitz suggested outgoing EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton may be in a rush to conclude a deal before she steps down at the end of this year [2014].

Iran and the P5+1 countries are preparing for new talks starting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week in New York.

Tehran and the six countries- the UN Security Council permanent members, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany-signed an interim deal in Geneva last November [2013], which took effect on January 20 and expired six months later.
In July, Iran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 this year after they failed to reach common ground on a number of key issues.

Under the interim deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear work in return for some relief from Western sanctions. Iran has repeatedly confirmed that its program is for peaceful ends only insisting that is its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty [NPT] while "Israel," which is believed to be the sole nuclear power in the Middle East with more than 200 nuclear heads, is not a signatory for this treaty.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team