Netanyahu Calls U.N. Report on Iran ‘Very Grave’

YERUSHALAYIM

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded to a U.N. report issued on Thursday indicating significant progress in the Iranian nuclear program, calling the news “very grave.”

The findings prove that Iran is moving with speed toward the red line he drew during his address at the U.N. in September, he said.

The White House said that the window remains open for diplomacy with Iran but will not stay open indefinitely.

The U.N. nuclear report determined that Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges at its main uranium enrichment plant.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that the issue of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons will head the agenda when President Barack Obama comes to visit in less than a month’s time.

In a confidential report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said 180 so-called IR-2m centrifuges and empty centrifuge casings had been hooked up at the plant near the central town of Natanz.

If operated successfully, the devices could enable Iran to accelerate its accumulation of material that could be used to assemble a nuclear weapon.

The report added that “extensive” activities, a reference to clean-up and renovations, at Iran’s Parchin military site would undermine an IAEA investigation to ascertain whether nuclear weapons-related research was carried on there.

To Read The Full Story

Are you already a subscriber?
Click to log in!