Iran nuclear row: Tehran says Israel's Netanyahu lied
1 May 2018
Iran has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "liar" after he accused the country of deceiving the world about its nuclear intentions. Mr Netanyahu produced what he said were copies of Iranian files detailing a project to build nuclear weapons, which was reportedly mothballed 15 years ago. Iran said it had never sought to build a bomb when it signed an international deal to curb nuclear activity in 2015. US President Donald Trump has threatened to pull out of the deal. American allies like the UK and France have called for the agreement to be maintained, arguing that  Iran has abided by it, steadily reducing its capacity to produce weapons-grade uranium. Hostility between Israel and Iran, already bitter enemies, has grown as Iran builds up its military in Syria, on Israel's doorstep. Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi described Mr Netanyahu as an "infamous liar who has had nothing to offer except lies and deceits". His accusations, he continued, were "worn-out, useless and shameful". Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the documents produced by Israel were a rehash of old allegations already dealt with by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog. Israel says that Iran is not a reliable partner and the 2015 agreement was reached in bad faith. Speaking after Mr Netanyahu's presentation of the alleged secret Iranian files, Mark Regev, the Israeli ambassador to London, said the Iranian government had deliberately concealed its military nuclear programme. "It appears we've caught them red-handed lying about what is ultimately a crucial element in the deal, one which is a prerequisite for future implementation of that very deal," he said. Not only did Mr Netanyahu give alleged details of Project Amad, the alleged Iranian nuclear weapons programme reportedly mothballed in 2003, but he said the project had continued at the Iranian defence ministry. He quoted the head of the alleged programme as saying "special activities" would continue "under the title of scientific know-how developments". Such work continued this year, Mr Netanyahu said, without giving evidence. Late 1980s Iran allegedly begins secret nuclear weapons research (IAEA report, December 2015) 1999 The Amad Project is launched, according to Israeli intelligence. In the years that follow, Iranian presidents consistently deny seeking to acquire nuclear weapons 2002 Satellite photos reveal Iranian nuclear sites and Washington accuses Iran of "across-the-board pursuit of weapons of mass destruction" 2003 The IAEA challenges Iran to prove it is not pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. Inspections follow and Amad is wound down, according to the IAEA's 2015 report 2006 UN agrees first round of sanctions on Iran after it fails to demonstrate its burgeoning civilian nuclear programme is not weapons-related 2011 The IAEA says Iran has been carrying out research that can only be used to develop a nuclear bomb trigger 2013 Election in Iran of reformist president, Hassan Rouhani, gives boost to talks with world powers on nuclear programme 2015 World powers reach deal with Iran on limiting Iranian nuclear activity in return for lifting of international economic sanctions 2018 Israel produces what it says is documentary proof of Project Amad's existence 15 years earlier and accuses Iran of continuing "special activities" It pointed out that one of its own reports from 2015 had identified some Iranian activities in 2003 "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device". There had been "no credible indications of activities in Iran relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device after 2009", according to that report. The White House initially responded to Mr Netanyahu's allegations by saying they were consistent with its understanding that Iran "has" a "robust, clandestine nuclear weapons" programme. However, it later corrected the statement by changing the tense of the verb to "had", blaming a "clerical error". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the documents proved "beyond any doubt" that Iran had not told the truth. Donald Trump has asked for permanent restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment. He has warned the US will abandon the deal on 12 May - the next deadline for waiving sanctions - unless European signatories to the deal and Congress address his concerns. France said the Israeli findings could "confirm the need for longer-term assurances on the Iranian programme". The evidence appeared to confirm what European powers had known for more than a decade and a half, it added. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Mr Netanyahu's presentation on Iran's past nuclear weapons research underlined the "importance of keeping the Iran nuclear deal's constraints on Tehran's nuclear ambitions". "The Iran nuclear deal is not based on trust about Iran's intentions; rather it is based on tough verification," he said. EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said the documents had not put into question Iran's compliance with the deal but they should be analysed by the IAEA. The agreement signed between Iran, the US, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain lifted crippling economic sanctions in return for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran is committed to slashing the number of its centrifuges, which are machines used to enrich uranium. It is also meant to cut its stockpile of enriched uranium drastically and not enrich remaining uranium to the level needed to produce nuclear weapons.
Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi described Mr Netanyahu as an "infamous liar who has had nothing to offer except lies and deceits". His accusations, he continued, were "worn-out, useless and shameful". Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said the documents produced by Israel were a rehash of old allegations already dealt with by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog.
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What did Iran say?
Israel says that Iran is not a reliable partner and the 2015 agreement was reached in bad faith. Speaking after Mr Netanyahu's presentation of the alleged secret Iranian files, Mark Regev, the Israeli ambassador to London, said the Iranian government had deliberately concealed its military nuclear programme. "It appears we've caught them red-handed lying about what is ultimately a crucial element in the deal, one which is a prerequisite for future implementation of that very deal," he said. Not only did Mr Netanyahu give alleged details of Project Amad, the alleged Iranian nuclear weapons programme reportedly mothballed in 2003, but he said the project had continued at the Iranian defence ministry. He quoted the head of the alleged programme as saying "special activities" would continue "under the title of scientific know-how developments". Such work continued this year, Mr Netanyahu said, without giving evidence.
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What is the thrust of Israel's case?
The White House initially responded to Mr Netanyahu's allegations by saying they were consistent with its understanding that Iran "has" a "robust, clandestine nuclear weapons" programme. However, it later corrected the statement by changing the tense of the verb to "had", blaming a "clerical error". US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the documents proved "beyond any doubt" that Iran had not told the truth. Donald Trump has asked for permanent restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment. He has warned the US will abandon the deal on 12 May - the next deadline for waiving sanctions - unless European signatories to the deal and Congress address his concerns.
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What does the US say?
France said the Israeli findings could "confirm the need for longer-term assurances on the Iranian programme". The evidence appeared to confirm what European powers had known for more than a decade and a half, it added. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Mr Netanyahu's presentation on Iran's past nuclear weapons research underlined the "importance of keeping the Iran nuclear deal's constraints on Tehran's nuclear ambitions". "The Iran nuclear deal is not based on trust about Iran's intentions; rather it is based on tough verification," he said. EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said the documents had not put into question Iran's compliance with the deal but they should be analysed by the IAEA.
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What about other key players?
The agreement signed between Iran, the US, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain lifted crippling economic sanctions in return for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran is committed to slashing the number of its centrifuges, which are machines used to enrich uranium. It is also meant to cut its stockpile of enriched uranium drastically and not enrich remaining uranium to the level needed to produce nuclear weapons.
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What is the 2015 deal?