Discussions on the Iranian nuclear file are expected to regain momentum after the summer break and the Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, is keen on maintaining Israeli opposition to the deal, an issue which will feature prominently during his visit to the United States this week. Bennett is expected to meet US president Joe Biden today.
Israel has been waging an intensive campaign against the deal, and the tone has increased after the election of Ibrahim Raisi as the Iranian president. Israel believes that a nuclear accord gives Iran the ability to build an atomic bomb.
Bennett said he will present US President Biden with a plan that Israel formulated, which will curb Iran’s nuclear activities and address the regional file as well. The Israeli plan does not envisage a return to the 2015 deal.
“When we began to plan the visit, a return to the agreement seemed certain. Since then, time has passed, the president in Iran has changed, and things seem far less certain. In our view, it may be that there is no return to the agreement,” an Israeli diplomatic source said speaking to The Times of Israel.
The top American negotiator on the Iran nuclear file, Robert Malley, said that Washington is ready to make compromises if Tehran does the same. Malley added that he hopes the Islamic Republic returns to the negotiating table “with a realistic approach.”, according to Bloomberg.
Iranian lawmakers approved Hossein Amirabdollahian as foreign minister in recent days. Amirabdollahian stressed that Iran’s foreign policy will not include the nuclear deal only but will also seek to mend ties with Arab countries and build trade ties in Asia.
All eyes are now on Vienna where the seventh round of negotiations between Iran and the international community are likely to resume soon.
