Netanyahu: G5+1 Proposal over Iran Extremely Bad

Local Editor

"Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Western nations should "ratchet up the sanctions" on Iran rather than go through with a proposal for a nuclear agreement that he calls an "extremely bad deal."

Netanyahu, in an interview with CNN, said easing sanctions would take off the financial pressure that could one day cause Iran to "cease and desist" from its controversial nuclear program.
"Iran is really on the ropes, their economy is ... close to paralysis, and all of a sudden, you take off the pressure, everybody will understand that you're heading south," he said.

In parallel, Netanyahu claimed that Iran only gives minor concessions in the proposed deal and will keep the capacity for making nuclear weapons. He said he is hopeful for a far better deal.
The way to get that is not to reduce sanctions, he said.
"I think they should not only keep up the pressure, I think you should increase the pressure, because it's finally working," he said. "And if you give it up now, when you have that pressure, and Iran doesn't even take apart, dismantle one centrifuge, what leverage will you have when you ease the pressure?"

Netanyahu said US Secretary of State John Kerry will visit "Israel" on Friday, but the State Department said the trip has yet to be confirmed.

Netanyahu met Sunday with French President Francois Hollande and is scheduled to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.

"I would like to make it clear that there can be disagreements even among the best of friends, certainly on issues related to our future and our fate," Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of "Israel's" weekly Cabinet meeting. "I hope that we will succeed in convincing our friends this week and in the days afterwards to achieve a much better agreement."
"If you do a bad deal, you may get to the point where your only option is a military option," he added. "So, a bad deal actually can lead you to exactly the place you don't want to be. I think if you want a peaceful solution as I do, then the right thing to do is ratchet up the sanctions."
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, in an interview with CNN, said Saturday night the United States is "listening carefully" to "Israel". He reiterated that Washington is continuing its longtime strategy to ensure that Iran cannot gain the capability of building nuclear weapons.

He said the US is considering different options to accomplish that goal.
But he said it would be irresponsible if the two sides in the negotiations didn't pursue diplomatic engagement while considering "Israel's" concerns.
"What we have been trying to do, and are doing, is working through these difficult issues," he said. "We think that there is some possibility of an agreement -- although we're very clear-eyed on this. We understand every danger and dimension of what Iran represents to Israel and us, and our other partners in the Middle East."

Hagel said the United States - and Iran - understand that there is the possibility of a military strike from a potentially isolated "Israel".
The United States, along with the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany - known as the P5+1 - came close to a deal during recent talks with Iran in Geneva, but the discussions ended with each side blaming the other for the lack of an agreement.

Source: CNN, Edited by website team