Israel Matzav

Israel 'skeptical' on Iran nuke offer

Israel's Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, is 'skeptical' over reports that Iran is willing to sign an agreement with the IAEA over its nuclear program.

"The Iranians appear to be trying to reach a technical deal that will create an appearance as if there is progress in the talks to remove some of the pressure ahead of the talks in Baghdad and to postpone an escalation in sanctions," Barak said during a meeting at the Defense Ministry.

...

Barak said that Israel's demands remained a complete stop to enrichment activities in Iran, including enrichment that is taking place to 20 percent and 3.5 percent. Israel, he said, also demands that all of the enriched material, except for a symbolic amount, be removed from Iran, which would also have to agree to an increase in supervision of its nuclear program by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Even if Iran is allowed to retain several hundred kilograms of low enriched uranium, it will need to be done under close supervision that will ensure that they will not have enough to continue towards a nuclear-military capability," he said.

Note that the last paragraph sounds like Israel has agreed to Iran retaining low-enriched uranium, although the previous paragraph seems to limit that consent to a 'symbolic amount.' It sounds like there's been movement toward a deal, but there isn't one on paper. Yet.

What could go wrong?

Labels: Ehud Barak, Iranian nuclear threat

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:49 AM