Israeli defense minister calls for ‘improved’ Iran nuclear deal

By Zain Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Outgoing Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has called for pressure on Iran to strike a new and “improved” nuclear agreement.

"The nuclear threat cannot fall from the global agenda. The time has come to place serious pressure on the Iranians in order to achieve a new and improved agreement," Gantz said in a speech for the Jewish Media Summit cited by Maariv newspaper.

"We must push our partners in the international community to deal with Iran in a coordinated manner before it brings itself to act with nuclear power," he added.

The Israeli minister argued that Iran is "a global and regional challenge" and a threat to Israel in the first place.

Indirect talks between Iran and the US on reviving the nuclear deal, which started in April, have stalled since August. One of the key sticking points has been Iran's demand that the UN nuclear watchdog drop its investigation into uranium traces found at three undeclared nuclear facilities in Iran.

On Dec. 5, Iran said it won't accept resuming talks on the 2015 nuclear deal under pressure and threats.

Israel accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear bomb, a claim denied by Tehran, which says its program is designed for peaceful purposes.

Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the landmark agreement in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate by taking steps away from its nuclear-related commitments. It has since gone on to surpass limits on the amount of uranium it is allowed to possess, as well as the levels to which it is allowed to enrich the nuclear material.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar