°®Âþµº

Israel signals readiness to step up confrontation with Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said his country will not be bound by any new nuclear deal between Iran and Western powers, and signalled Israeli readiness to step up confrontations with Tehran.
2 min read
23 November, 2021
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said ''We face complicated times. It is possible that there will be disputes with the best of our friends' [source: Getty]

signalled readiness on Tuesday to step up confrontation with Iran and reiterated that his country would not be bound by any new with world powers.

Indirect negotiations will begin on NovemberÌý29Ìýabout reviving the 2015 deal,Ìýwhich withdrew from, deeming it insufficient to shut down projects with bomb-making potential - a view shared by the Israelis.

, which denies seeking nuclear arms, has since the USÌýwalkout breached the deal with expanded uranium enrichment.

Bennett, who took power in June, described Iran in a speech as being at "the most advanced stage of its nuclear programme".

While his government has previously said it would be open to a new nuclear deal with tougher restrictions on Iran, Bennett reasserted Israel's autonomy to take action against its arch-foe.

MENA
Live Story

"We face complicated times. It is possible that there will be disputes with the best of our friends," he told a televised conference hosted by Reichman University.

"In any event, even if there is a return to a deal, Israel is of course not a party to the deal and Israel is not obligated by the deal."

Bennett voiced frustration with what he described as smaller-scale clashes with Iranian guerrilla allies.

"The Iranians have encircled the State of Israel with missiles while they sit safely in Tehran," he said. "To chase the terrorist du jour sent by the (Iranian covert) Qods Force does not pay off anymore. We must go for the dispatcher."

Stopping short of explicitly threatening war, Bennett said and what he deemed Israel's advantages as a democracy and international support could be brought to bear.

"Iran is much more vulnerable than is commonly thought," he said.Ìý

Ìý