Israeli Delegation Will Urge US to Oppose ‘Bad Iran Deal’

An Israeli delegation is to travel to Washington DC next week to petition US officials to take a tough line in renewed talks between major world powers and Iran, in which the sides will discuss the Islamic regime’s nuclear program.

“I will travel to Washington next week at the head of an important delegation, in light of what could be the last round of negotiations between world powers and Iran before a November deadline for an agreement,” Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said Wednesday.

“If a bad agreement is reached, this will be unacceptable for us,” added the minister.

The US and other world powers reached a controversial interim deal with Iran over its nuclear program last November, leading to the current negotiations over a comprehensive agreement. During the talks Iran agreed to limit some of its nuclear activities in order to receive sanctions relief.

However, Iran has been taking an increasingly aggressive line in demanding its “right” to enrich uranium, with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently saying Iran “needs” 19 times more nuclear centrifuges than the amount being offered by world powers.

Negotiations have been leading to a July 20 target date, but they were recently extended until November 24, giving Iran more time to slowly advance its nuclear program. Talks are to open in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly opening on September 16.

While Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday voiced optimism that an agreement can be reached by the November deadline, Zarif just the day before on Monday warned of “unpleasant” responses to new US sanctions against it.

It is worth noting that Khamenei back in January publicly revealed that the negotiations with the US about Iran’s nuclear program are part of a tactic to stall international pressure and gain time to continue Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran has also been active in attacking Israel, with a senior Iranian official revealing last month that the Islamic regime is arming terrorists in Judea and Samaria, and vowed it would continue supporting “the resistance” against Israel.

An IDF source revealed last month that in addition to supplying weapons, Iran also launched a cyber war on Israel during Operation Protective Edge.