Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan dismissed as “lies” the recent claims made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO, also known as the MEK,
General Dehqan’s remarks came after MKO claimed that Iran has a nuclear site that it has not declared its presence to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Israeli prime minister has kept repeating MKO’s claims.
“Netanyahu and the terrorist MKO, that share treason and fabrication as their conspicuous characteristics, in a wicked coordination have forged this news report in a bid to undermine and influence the successful diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in their futile dreams,” Dehqan said.
He said the new plot and false claim by Netanyahu and MKO which will not be the last in its kind will be foiled like the previous ones, and reiterated that “such conspiracies can no way undermine Iran’s will to proceed with its peaceful nuclear objectives and continue its rational negotiations with the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).
Last week, Netanyahu warned the six world powers to give up their present approach in negotiations with Tehran, which diplomats of both Iran and the six world powers say, is much likely to end in an agreement soon.
As western diplomats said they have offered Tehran an ease in sanctions in return for Tehran stopping any further advancement in its nuclear enrichment activities, the Israeli premier said Tel Aviv is against an agreement with Iran that stops short of getting it to halt its uranium enrichment.
“Israel understands that there are proposals on the table in Geneva that would ease the pressure on Iran for concessions that are not concessions at all,” he said, during a speech to the Jewish Agency.
While a nuclear military capability needs uranium enriched more than 90% and Iran has succeeded in enriching uranium to a maximum 20% to feed its nuclear research reactor in Tehran which produces radioisotopes for medical purposes, including cancer treatment, the Israeli prime minister said the 20-percent enrichment capability enables Iran to build an atomic bomb.
“This proposal will allow Iran to preserve its ability to build a nuclear weapon. Israel is completely opposed to these proposals. I believe that adopting them would be a mistake of historic proportions and they should be completely rejected,” he said.
Netanyahu renewed his military threats against Iran, warning that if the present negotiations in Geneva between Iran and the six world powers end in an agreement undesirable to Israel, Tel Aviv might wage an attack on Iran.
He said “anything less” than a complete halt of Iran’s nuclear activities would decrease the chances of reaching an agreement through peaceful means. “Israel always reserves the right to defend itself, by itself, against any threat,” he asserted.
Iran, which says its nuclear program is a peaceful energy project, wants them to start lifting tightening sanctions on its economy.
Both Iran and the six world powers have described the talks as “positive”.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi said he hoped a deal could be struck but that the sides remained far apart.