While John Kerry voices optimism regarding negotiations with Iran, Netanyahu warns of a major global threat. The latest developments indicate a pending nuclear deal.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
As the six world powers are in the final days of marathon talks that have blown past two extensions and entered the 16th day of the current round on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns that the P5+1 Powers have completely capitulated to Iranian demands, while Iran touts its hatred for Israel and support for global terror.
“The ruler of Iran, Khameini, is quoted as saying that Iran needs to plan to fight the US regardless of whether there is an agreement. The President of Iran, Rouhani, stands at the head of the march of hatred in the streets of Tehran, in which US and Israeli flags were burned, and in which many chanted ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’ All of this is happening as the parade of concessions to Iran continues in Vienna, concessions even on issues that had been marked as red lines in the Lausanne package, which is a bad deal in its own right,” Netanyahu said at the beginning of a cabinet meeting Sunday morning.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the US on Saturday an “excellent example of arrogance” and said that Iran should be “prepared to continue the struggle against arrogant powers.”
The deal is “paving Iran’s way to many nuclear bombs and gives it hundreds of billions of dollars for its terrorism and conquest machine, thereby endangering the peace of the entire world,” Netanyahu charged.
Israel will not comply with the international submission to Iran and will defend itself, Netanyahu declared. “Iran does not hide its intention to continue its murderous aggression even against those with whom it is negotiating. Perhaps there is someone among the great powers who is prepared to capitulate to this reality that Iran is dictating, which includes its unending calls for the destruction of Israel. We will not pay the price for this.”
Kerry Expresses Hope
US Secretary of State Kerry. (AP/Saul Loeb)
While Netanyahu expressed near-despair at the situation, Kerry voiced hope for a resolution to the points of contention in the negotiations with Iran, which appeared to be back on track on Sunday.
En route to Mass at Vienna’s gothic St. Stephens Cathedral, Kerry said twice that he was “hopeful” after a “very good meeting” Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who attended Muslim services Friday.
Kerry noted that “a few tough things” remain in the way of agreement, but added: “We’re getting to some real decisions.”
As the weekend approached, Kerry declared the talks could not go on indefinitely and warned that the US could walk away from the negotiations.
In another sign that a deal could soon be sealed, Russian news agencies reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov planned to arrive in Vienna on Sunday evening. Most other foreign ministers of the six nations negotiating with Iran already are in the Austrian capital and in a position to join Kerry and Zarif for any announcement of an agreement.
Diplomats familiar with the talks say most of the nuts and bolts of implementing the deal have been agreed upon, but over the past week issues that were previously on the back burner led to new disputes.
By: United with Israel Staff
AP contributed to this report
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