President Obama on Monday rejected an Israeli demand that a final
nuclear deal with Iran include recognition of the Jewish state’s right to
exist.
Basing a deal on recognition of Israel is like “saying that we won’t
sign a deal unless the nature of the Iranian regime completely transforms,”
Obama said in an interview Monday with NPR. “And that is, I think, a
fundamental misjudgment.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said a deal should
include “clear and unambiguous Iranian
recognition of Israel’s right to exist.”
Meanwhile, Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, on
Monday suggested steps that could make a final deal “more reasonable” for
Israel. They include an end to all research and development on advanced
centrifuges.
Israel also wants the closing of the underground Fordo site, rather
than just suspension of enrichment there.
Steinitz said Israel has not ruled out military action against Iran's nuclear
program. But military analysts doubt Israel would act without U.S. approval and
clear evidence Iran is cheating on the terms of last week's agreement.
The sparring came as U.S. officials acknowledged they have no deal with
Iran on
timing for phasing out sanctions.
“You can’t start talking about relieving sanctions until we’ve reached
agreements about how we’re going to shut down every pathway they have to a
nuclear weapon,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
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