We will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weaponry - Netanyahu

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged that his country will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weaponry after Tehran said it intends to start rowing back on its nuclear deal commitments.

“This morning, on my way here, I heard that Iran intends to pursue its nuclear program. We will not allow Iran to achieve nuclear weaponry. We will continue to fight those who would kill us.”

Israel is the latest to weigh in on Iran’s announcement on Wednesday that it will be suspending some of its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal in periods of 60 days, starting with a refusal to dispose of excessive heavy water and enriched uranium.

Earlier, France said that it, Britain and Germany were doing all they could to keep the accord alive. China stated that all sides have a responsibility to ensure the agreement is fully implemented.

During his announcement on national television, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the gradual scale-down of the country’s commitments was a reciprocal response to the US’ withdrawal from the agreement almost exactly one year ago.

Last year, the US broke its commitments under the deal, restored and extended sanctions, and attempted to prevent countries around the world from buying Iran’s oil. Rouhani said on Wednesday that unless the remaining signatories make good on their promises to protect Iran from US sanctions, they will row back on their commitments under the deal.

Israel has long criticized Iran over its nuclear operations, with Netanyahu openly opposing the international deal and previously accusing Europe of appeasing Iran on the issue – evocative language that harks back to European nations’ initial failure to confront Nazi Germany.

During a 2018 speech at the United Nations, Netanyahu presented what he considered proof that Iran still sought to obtain nuclear weapons, despite the 2015 agreement. The presentation consisted of an aerial photograph of the Iranian capital, marked with a red arrow pointing to what the Israeli leader said was once a secret warehouse holding nuclear-related material that had since been moved. Iran responded to the presentation by calling it an “arts and crafts show.”

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