Israel warns of nuclear Iran pact

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that international powers are conceding too much to Iran in the nuclear talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that international powers are conceding too much to Iran in a bid to meet this month’s deadline to finalise a deal to reduce its ­nuclear capacity.

Mr Netanyahu stepped up his criticism of the framework agreement after Iran’s President Hasan Rouhani contradicted ­assessments that a comprehensive agreement was beyond reach.

Mr Netanyahu last night outlined Israel’s concern that the US-led side was “accelerating concessions” to Iran as the June 30 deadline approaches.

“Iran has backed away from the agreements apparently reached in Lausanne,” Mr Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. “Unfortunately, the ­reports that have reached us from the world powers show that they are accelerating their concessions to Iran.

“Every day, this deal looks worse. It isn’t too late to pull ­together and reject this bad deal, and to demand a better deal.”

Earlier, Mr Rouhani contradicted assessments that a final deal to curb the country’s ­nuclear program cannot be reached. He spoke out after the Russian news agency TASS quoted a member of that country’s delegation as saying the nego­tiations were stalled.

Missing the self-imposed deadline for an agreement for Iran to give up most of its nuclear fuel-making capacity and ­reserves of enriched uranium in return for the easing of crippling economic sanctions would be a setback, but would not spell the end of the diplomatic effort.

Mr Rouhani’s comments, at a media conference in Tehran to mark the second anniversary of his surprise election as President, shows Iran still intends to fashion a binding deal out of the in-principle agreement reached 10 weeks ago.

Those negotiations between Iran and a top international dele­gation led by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has since broken a leg in a bicycle accident, hammered out the basis of an agreement that the West says would present enough practical hurdles to stop Tehran building a nuclear bomb.

The Iranians insist their ­nuclear program is peaceful, a proposition rejected by Israel and most of Iran’s Arab neighbours. A major sticking point is the verification and enforcement of measures agreed upon by the Iranians.

The relatively moderate Mr Rouhani came to power vowing to ease sanctions and improve the daily lives of Iranians, blighted by the decade-long embargo on many imports and foreign ­investment.

On Saturday, he said Iran would allow inspection of its ­nuclear facilities, but not at the cost of state “secrets’’.

Under the Lausanne framework, Iran would limit uranium enrichment at its prime Natanz plant to a level useful only for civilian purposes.

Its nuclear fuel stockpile would be slashed, reportedly by being shipped to Russia, and the Fordo plant would become a ­research centre.

Additional reporting: Agencies