Netanyahu holds first “strategic session” to discuss Iranian issue
RAMALLAH, Palestine (North Press) – On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu holds the first strategic discussion with the security leadership, to discuss Israel’s position on the nuclear deal signed with Iran, especially after the US willingness to return to it.
Heads of security departments in Israel will participate in these discussions, including Mossad’s head Yossi Cohen, National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabat, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi.
The issues that they will discuss, is preventing the Iranian positioning in Iraq, Yemen and Syria, as well as close and transparent monitoring of all nuclear installations, Israeli politicians said.
This session was scheduled to take place on February 18, but was postponed after Netanyahu’s phone call with US President Joe Biden.
Political sources in Tel Aviv said that the US is rushing for negotiations with Iran, but Israel has not yet elaborated an official policy in this regard.
Alongside, The Israeli security services prepared a document of twelve items that they wanted to be presented in the new talks with Iran.
In Tehran, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif warned Israel of attacking his country considering the step as a suicide.
In an interview with the Lebanese Hezbollah al-Manar TV channel, Zarif said that through their presence in Syria, Iran aims to confront the Islamic State (ISIS), and that Israel should know that the policy of targeting positions in Syria will not remain unanswered.
On Sunday night, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, announced that a temporary solution had been reached with Iran that would allow the continuation of inspections in its territory for three months.
Grossi did not disclose precise details of the activities that the agency would not be able to undertake, but stressed that the number of inspectors would not be reduced and that sudden inspections would continue in light of the interim understanding.
However, this new understanding will remain subject to continuous review and can be suspended at any time, according to informed sources.
At the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament, which is dominated by Conservatives, passed a law requiring the government to suspend the additional protocol and expel agency inspectors, in case the US did not lift the banking and oil sanctions it imposed on Tehran. This law is scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday.