IDF Cautiously Upbeat On Iran Deal

The Israeli military cautiously welcomed on Thursday the expected international deal which would curb Iran’s nuclear program, a departure from  Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s continued vigorous opposition to it.

In remarks carried by several Israeli media outlets, an unnamed senior military officer said that if agreed by its June 30 deadline, the deal would provide clarity on the direction of Iran’s nuclear program.

The officer said that for now, measures sought by world powers such as stepped-up international inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities and scaling back of its uranium enrichment “allow for the supposition that, in the coming period of years, this is a threat in decline.”

An Israeli military source authenticated the quotes to Reuters, confirming that they reflected thinking at the highest levels of the armed forces.

Meanwhile, speaking in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Khaled al-Attiyah struck a conciliatory tone with its regional neighbor and said Western states had given assurances that any deal would be solid.

“For the sake of Iran and its people we would like to see this agreement happening and maybe they can focus on development and prosperity for the region, which we would all like to see,” he said.

“The parties discussing this agreement are discussing it with the intention that we have a solid agreement. We have no doubt about our allies. We have this assurance by the Americans and the French as well,” he said.

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the June 5th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.