Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday, expressed skepticism regarding the value of the apparent agreement between the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and The Islamic Republic of Iran. He spoke earlier in the day during a meeting at the Defense Ministry stating:

“It appears that the Iranians are trying to reach a ‘technical agreement’ which will create the impression of progress in the talks, in order to remove some of the pressure before the [P5+1] talks tomorrow in Baghdad; as well as to put off the intensification of sanctions. Israel believes that Iran should be sent a clear bar; so that there is no ‘window or crack’ which the Iranians can [creep] through to advance their military nuclear program.

Iran must stop enriching uranium, both to 20% and to 3.5%. In addition, all enriched uranium should be removed from Iran, under the tight protocol, called IAEA protocol 3.1.

Even if the Iranians are allowed to hold a symbolic amount – a few hundred kilograms of 3.5% enriched uranium – it needs to be under tight supervision. This will guarantee that at any given moment, the Iranians will not have enough uranium to enable the development of a military nuclear [program]. It is forbidden to make concessions to Iran. The requirements of the world powers must be clear and unequivocal.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)