By, Anshel Pfeffer
2 min read
ByAnshel Pfeffer, Anshel Pfeffer
Israeli leaders remain deeply sceptical of American intentions on the eve of the crucial stage of talks to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear programme before the November 24 deadline.
Despite repeated US assurances that Iran will not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and reports that no progress was made in the round of talks this week, the current assessment in Jerusalem is that the Obama administration is determined to reach a deal at any price.
According to both American and Iranian sources, the intensive two-day round of talks in Oman, which ended Monday night, failed to achieve a breakthrough.
The talks were attended by US State Secretary John Kerry, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Jawad Zarif and Baroness Catherine Ashton who, despite ending her term as the European Union's foreign policy chief last month, is still leading the negotiations on behalf of the P5+1 group of world powers.
Despite an upbeat atmosphere, Iran's lead negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, said on Monday night: "We are not in a position to say we have made any progress." Anonymous US officials briefing the reporters travelling with Mr Kerry were equally negative.
Low-level talks continue in Oman throughout the week and the sides are to meet again next week in Vienna in a last-ditch attempt to reach an agreement before the deadline.
In recent days, the Americans have made attempts to convince Israel and its supporters that they were going to drive a tough bargain with the Iranians. President Barack Obama said in a television interview on Sunday that an agreement may not be signed by the deadline due to the "big gap" remaining between the sides, and that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons was his highest priority.
Vice President Joe Biden appeared on Monday at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America and said that the US would “not sign a bad deal” with Iran and that "we will not let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon. Period, period, period."
Mr Kerry called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night to personally update him on the Oman talks. Mr Kerry also brought up a tweet made on Sunday by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of a plan to "eliminate" Israel, calling it "shocking and unacceptable".
At this point, however, it is hard to say that the administration has put Mr Netanyahu's mind at rest. Israeli officials have said in recent days that the defeat of the Democratic Party in last week's congressional midterm elections have only made Mr Obama more determined to pursue his foreign policy objectives - and a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran is central to his plans.
There have been various leaks on a tentative agreement that would allow Iran to continue using 5,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium, which Israel would consider a ‘win’ for Iran and its nuclear ambitions.
In addition, the Wall Street Journal revealed last week that Mr Obama had sent Ayatollah Khamenei a personal letter, without updating the Israeli government, regarding possible U.S.-Iran cooperation in fighting ISIS.
This only heightened the Israeli suspicion that the two sides are on the verge of signing a deal that will allow Iran to retain the capability to build a nuclear weapon in the space of a year.
Mr Netanyahu has sent personal letters to the foreign ministers of all P5+1 nations urging them not to allow Iran to achieve the means to carry out Khamenei's desire to eliminate Israel. He also recorded a public video message, in which he said: "Don't rush toward a bad deal with Iran, which will allow Iran to rush toward the bomb."
