No 10 resists Netanyahu calls to censure Iran for nuclear deal breaches
‘What is needed is more pressure and the leverage which will come from that pressure on the regime in Iran’
DOWNING STREET yesterday appeared to reject Israeli calls for Britain to take a harder line against Iran, despite Tehran warning it would announce new violations of the 2015 nuclear deal this weekend.
Boris Johnson met Benjamin Netanyahu in London as the Israeli prime minister continued his campaign to urge European leaders to abandon the Iran nuclear deal and impose fresh sanctions on Iran.
Mr Netanyahu also acknowledged that Donald Trump may meet Iran’s president at the United Nations this month but said America should keep up economic pressure, even if the unprecedented talks take place.
“I can’t tell you when or whether the talks will take place between Mr Trump and [Hassan] Rouhani,” Mr Netanyahu told reporters in London. “Today I think what is needed is more pressure and the leverage which will come from that pressure on the regime in Iran.” The meeting between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Johnson came as Iran said it would announce a third tranche of nuclear deal violations tomorrow. The breaches are likely to include bringing new nuclear centrifuges online and expanding atomic research.
Iran has been gradually stepping up its violations of the nuclear deal in an effort to pressure Europe to find a way around US sanctions and provide relief to Iran’s flagging economy.
Israeli officials said they were encouraged by the meeting with Mr Johnson, who voiced support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hizbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Iran.
But there did not appear to be any shift in the UK’S position and a Downing Street spokesman indicated Mr Johnson would continue Theresa May’s policy of siding with France and Germany in support of the nuclear deal, despite US and Israeli pressure.
“Both prime ministers agreed on the need to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon and stop wider destabilising behaviour. [Mr Johnson] stressed the need for dialogue and a diplomatic solution,” the spokesman said.
The Foreign Office said last night: “Iran’s plan to suspend limits on nuclear research and development is deeply concerning. This third step away from its commitments under the nuclear deal is particularly disappointing at a time when we and our European and international partners are working hard to de-escalate tensions.”
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has been working on an initiative to encourage Iran to comply with the nuclear deal in return for a $15billion line of bank credit.
Mr Macron is also eager to engineer a meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Rouhani at the UN summit.
Mr Trump said this week he was open to such a meeting, which would be the first face-to-face encounter between US and Iranian leaders since Iran’s 1979 revolution.