U.S., Europe to weigh Iran nuclear deception

Israel says documents show Iranians lied about weapons program in past decade

JERUSALEM — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Israel’s newest purported evidence about Iran’s past nuclear activities will be discussed with the other global powers that negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal before President Donald Trump decides whether to withdraw from it.

But European leaders on Tuesday said the latest accusations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only reinforce the need to keep the agreement in place.

Mr. Netanyahu rolled out an elaborate presentation at the Israeli Defense Ministry on Monday, saying Iran lied and cheated in negotiating the landmark deal. The presentation, which was delivered in English on live TV and made heavy use of visual aids, appeared to be aimed at swaying global opinion ahead of Mr. Trump’s decision May 12.

Mr. Netanyahu unveiled what he said was a “half ton” of Iranian nuclear documents that were illicitly seized by Israeli intelligence and provided evidence that Iran

attempted to develop a nuclear bomb in the previous decade, especially before 2003.

Iran has denied ever pursuing nuclear arms.

Mr. Netanyahu has been an outspoken critic of the deal, which was negotiated between Iran and six major powers. It offered Iran relief from crippling international sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Mr. Netanyahu argues that the deal will not prevent Iran, Israel’s most bitter enemy, from reaching a nuclear weapons capability, and he has found a close ally in Mr. Trump, who has called the agreement “the worst deal ever.” Mr. Trump has signaled he will withdraw from the agreement if it is not renegotiated and changed.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Tuesday that the Israeli announcement offered proof that the Iran deal was made “under false pretenses.”

Speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu said Israel had obtained the trove of documents in February and that they prove that Iran is “trying to bamboozle the entire world.” He shared the information with Mr. Trump in March.

Mr. Pompeo, who was returning to the U.S. on Tuesday after his first official visit to the Middle East, said he had discussed the material with Mr. Netanyahu and would raise the matter with European allies. He said the documents showed Iran sought nuclear weapons and hid a vast archive of information from the world and the U.N. nuclear agency.

“What this means is the deal was not constructed on a foundation of good faith or transparency. It was built on Iran’s lies,” Mr. Pompeo said.

Iran dismissed Mr. Netanyahu’s move as a “ridiculous” show but did not address the documents he produced.