Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has warned that Iran is “dangerously close” to producing nuclear weapons.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Mr Bennett said Iran was enriching uranium at an “unprecedented rate”.

“Without pressure from the West, the Islamic regime in Iran could get their hands on a nuclear bomb very soon.

“The world must take a firm stance and tell the Islamic regime in Iran: no nukes, no sanctions. Iran’s nuclear programme won’t stop until it’s stopped.”

The Telegraph also reported that Israel had asked the UK to establish a “tripwire” mechanism to initiate harsher sanctions against Iran if it continued its nuclear efforts. This would be separate from any potential future deal between Tehran and the West.

Iran was formally censured by the UN’s nuclear watchdog on Wednesday, hours after the disclosure that it had disconnected some of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s cameras monitoring its nuclear sites.

The IAEA had raised concerns about traces of enriched uranium found at three sites Tehran had not declared as having hosted nuclear activities.

Mr Bennett welcomed the censure as “a significant resolution that exposes Iran’s true face”.
Iran denies that it is seeking to build a nuclear bomb but European nations are concerned by the extent of its nuclear activities in recent years.

In 2015, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. But the deal’s impact was weakened when then President Trump withdrew the United States from it in 2018.

On Thursday, Mr Bennett visited the United Arab Emirates for talks with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other senior representatives.

The visit was further evidence of a strengthening of ties and a united front against Iran.

“Together, we will take the special bond that has been woven between our countries to the next level,” Mr Bennett said.

Israel and the UAE recently signed a wide ranging free trade agreement.