Israel Open to ‘Good’ Iran Nuclear Deal, But Wants Tougher Vienna Terms

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday that Israel would not automatically oppose a nuclear deal with Iran but world powers must take a more firm position.

“We are not the bear who said ‘no’,” Bennett said in an interview with Army Radio.

Israel prefers a more result-oriented approach, he said.

“For sure there can be a good agreement. For sure. We know the parameters. Is that expected to happen now in the current dynamics? No. Because there needs to be a much firmer position,” he said.

“Iran is negotiating with a very weak hand. But unfortunately, the world is acting like Iran is at a strong point.”

On Monday, Iran and the United States resumed indirect talks in Vienna on salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with Iran focused on one side of the original bargain, lifting sanctions against it, despite what critics see as scant progress on reining in its atomic activities.