Israel fears Iran talks will be nothing but a middle eastern bazaar

In the photo: IAEA chief Yukiya Amano.

Following the meeting between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran, optimistic reports have been circulated that Iran is finally surrendering to international demands regarding supervision of their nuclear program. IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said after the meeting in Tehran on Tuesday that despite some remaining differences, a deal has been reached that will allow his organizations to restart its work of supervision in Iran. This work has been suspended for four years due to Iranian refusal to cooperate.

Yesterday, the P5+1 nations (the permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany), were set to meet with Iranian representatives in Baghdad, and the summit has already been presented as a turning point in this issue. The P5+1 nations demand that Iran will stop enriching uranium to a higher level than when it can quickly be turned into fissile core of nuclear arms.

Israel however, is not impressed by the recent developments. They say Iran is creating the “illusion of progress” so that international pressure will be lifted. Prime Minister Netanyahu listed his demands that were much stricter and more defined than those of the P5+1: “They need to make clear and unequivocal demands that Iran stop all of its nuclear activity, remove all the material that has been enriched until now and dismantle the underground nuclear facility near Qom.”

Comment

There is a gap between what Israel finds acceptable and what the P5+1 states are willing to concede to Iran. The six world powers are willing to let Iran enrich uranium up to 20 percent. However, the step from 20 percent to weapons grade of more than 90 percent is not so big. This worries Israel which therefore demands an end of enrichment altogether.

What explains these different approaches? Probably, nothing explains it better than the recent statements on Sunday by Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi: “The Iranian nation is standing for its cause that is the full annihilation of Israel." He continued: "Iran's leader, Ali Khamenei, will never recognize any authority in Palestine other than the Palestinians."

For Israel, an Iranian nuclear bomb is not a matter of a political inconvenience, something that will complicate the dynamics of power in the Middle East – or, as is highly relevant for the western nations, something that may endanger the flow of oil. For Israel, this is a matter of to be or not to be. True, it is not certain that Iran would be willing to use a possible nuclear bomb against Israel – Israel’s critics constantly claim the leaders of the Jewish state are overreacting, and that the Iranian threats are just polemics for internal use. But modern Israel’s brief history says otherwise – and Netanyahu is not ready to make that gamble. Firouzabadi’s statement gives him no reason to be complacent.

And this is where the international community so far has failed to fulfill its task – to protect a state threatened with extinction. In Iran, we have a nation with the destructive combination of nuclear arms (potentially) and a genocide agenda. And the world plays Middle Eastern bazaar with her leaders – claims, counter claims, threats, praise, and a never ending negotiation. The world should force the Iranian leadership to its knees until it surrenders. Otherwise, a possible Israeli attack with all this, which may include unforeseen developments, will be the unfortunate consequence. Every sane nation would have done the same –defend its right to exist. If this happens, and may it never be necessary, the reason is international inaction as a result of pitiful narrow agendas.

By Word of Life Israel

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