Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately went on the offensive Tuesday, branding the US-brokered nuclear deal with Iran, "a stunning historic mistake." The deal, which the US has aggressively pursued for the past 20 months, guarantees Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for limitations and international monitoring of its nuclear activities. U.S. President Barack Obama declared that the agreement will effectively stop Iran's capability to build a nuclear weapon, HNGN earlier reported. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has also maintained that Iran will not seek a nuclear weapon in a televised address as the deal mandates a reduction to the country's nuclear centrifuges by two-thirds.
Netanyahu was not mollified by the reassurances, arguing that the deal does not have the mechanism to ensure that Iran will not gain nuclear capability, according to the Dallas News. He pointed out the futile international agreement inked with North Korea as an example. He identified the same methods of monitoring and verification that have so far failed to curb the country's nuclear ambitions. Netanyahu was quoted as saying, "Iran will get a jackpot, a cash bonanza of hundreds of billions of dollars, which will enable it to continue to pursue its aggression and terror in the region and in the world," in an MSN report. The nuclear deal signed in Vienna involves the agreement from the six world powers to lift Iran's sanctions.
Israel's power elite is also solidly behind Netanyahu on the issue. Ministers who emerged from a security cabinet meeting, which was assembled minutes after the White House announced the deal, unanimously rejected the agreement. Israel's political opposition also shared the government's position, The Times of Israel learned. Speaking before reporters, Netanyahu has underscored the need for a united front at home as his government struggles to contain and counter the recent blow to Israel's interest.
The Iranian nuclear deal will require the ratification of the U.S. Congress and Netanyahu's government is already preparing plans to persuade American lawmakers to rescind it, citing the holes and frailties in the agreement, CNN reported.
