Netanyahu: Israel will not allow Iran to produce nuclear weapons

(Patria) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated yesterday that Israel will not allow Iran to produce nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu specified that he has carried out "countless actions, public and secret, that have set back the Iranian nuclear program by almost a decade".

This is his first statement on Iran since the administration of US President Donald Trump began negotiations with Tehran in an attempt to conclude a new Iranian nuclear deal.

"As the Prime Minister has stated many times - Israel will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

The Prime Minister has led countless actions, both overt and covert, in the fight against the Iranian nuclear program, without which Iran would possess a nuclear arsenal today.

These actions have set back the Iranian nuclear program by almost a decade," Netanyahu's office announced.

Western countries, led by the US, suspect that Iran wants to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran rejects these accusations and defends its right to nuclear energy for civil purposes, especially for energy production.

Iran and the US, which have not had diplomatic relations since 1980, held their first talks last Saturday, mediated by Omani authorities, on the Iranian nuclear program.

The New York Times reported yesterday that Trump dissuaded Israel from attacking nuclear sites in Iran in favor of diplomacy.

In 2015, Iran concluded an agreement on its nuclear program in Vienna with France, Germany, Great Britain, China, Russia, and the US. In return, the text provided for the reduction of international sanctions against Tehran.

However, in 2018, during his first presidential term, Trump unilaterally withdrew his country from the agreement and reimposed heavy sanctions on Iran.

In response, Tehran increased its reserves of enriched uranium to 60 percent, while 90 percent is needed to produce an atomic weapon.

On March 7, the US President said he had sent a letter to the Iranian authorities, proposing negotiations to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, threatening military intervention.

The Iranian authorities then responded by stating that they are against direct negotiations under "maximum pressure and threats," but are open to indirect contacts.

A second meeting between officials of the two countries is scheduled for Saturday in Rome.