Iran is playing with fire, warns German minister

BERLIN: Iran’s latest moves jeopardise a return of the United States to the nuclear deal, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned on Thursday.

“The more pressure is applied, the more difficult it gets to find a political solution,” Maas said.

Talks “are being significantly complicated at the moment because Iran obviously does not seek de-escalation but escalation — and this is playing with fire.”

Iran said on Monday it will block snap inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog from next week if other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal do not uphold their obligations, a challenge to US President Joe Biden’s hope of reviving the accord.

Earlier, Biden made a long-awaited first phone call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ater a delay that had seen Washington deny it was snubbing Israel’s leader.

The White House had said that Netanyahu, who differs with Biden on some Middle East issues such as Iran, would be the first regional leader he would call.

The delay in the traditional courtesy call was also widely regarded by analysts as a sign that Biden did not want to be seen boosting Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s March 23 elections.

“It was a good conversation,” Biden told reporters in the Oval Office where he was meeting US labour leaders.

Biden and Netanyahu spoke for about an hour on issues including the “Iranian threat” and Israel’s budding relations with Arab and Muslim countries, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “The two leaders noted their longstanding personal connection,” it added.

The White House said they discussed, among other issues, the need for “continued close consultation” on Iran.

Biden told Netanyahu he intends to strengthen defence co-operation with Israel and stressed his support for normalisation of relations with its neighbours. He also “underscored the importance” of working towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the statement said.

The White House had denied that the delay in a Biden call was meant to disrespect Netanyahu, with spokeswoman Jen Psaki saying last week that it was “not an intentional dis.”

Netanyahu this week acknowledged differences with Biden over Iranian and Palestinian issues, but said the two enjoy a strong working relationship.

The Israeli leader may find the two countries’ alliance tested if Washington restores US participation in the Iran nuclear deal, from which Trump withdrew, and opposes Israeli setlement building on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.