Netanyahu Furious: Iran Builds Bomb While the West Talks
New IAEA report justifies Israel's concerns that Iran is secretly pursuing a nuclear weapons program
By | February 22, 2015
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday was astonished that even as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) once again acknowledges in its latest report that Iran is likely building a nuclear bomb, the West, led by the Obama Administration, remains mired in fruitless diplomatic talks with Tehran.
In its report dated last Thursday, the IAEA detailed that at the facilities and programs open to it, Iran appears to be complying with international demands regarding its nuclear program.
However, the report emphasized that there are many suspected facilities and programs that Iran is keeping concealed or otherwise denying access to, and that among them are facilities and programs that are strongly believed to be military in nature.
"The Agency remains concerned about the possible existence in Iran of undisclosed nuclear related activities involving military related organizations, including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile," read the report.
The IAEA noted that its November 2011 report had "provided a detailed analysis of the information available to the Agency at that time, indicating that Iran has carried out activities that are relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device," and that that assessment remains credible.
In a statement released to the press just before the weekend, Netanyahu wondered how in light of these revelations "the major powers are continuing to try and allow Iran to produce the core of such weapons, enriched uranium."
Israeli authorities have charged that the nuclear deal currently being negotiated between the Obama Administration and Iran would permit the Islamic Republic to keep the bulk of its nuclear program intact so long as it provide guarantees that the purpose is peaceful.
Like many in Israel, Netanyahu argues that such guarantees are worthless given that even the IAEA admits Iran is concealing dangerous activities, and the Israeli leader intends to tell the US Congress as much early next month.