Netanyahu defies America by threatening to bomb Iran
Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to derail the US-Iran nuclear talks by launching strikes on the Islamic Republic, it has been claimed.
Amid widespread rumours of heated phone calls between the Israeli prime minister and Donald Trump, The New York Times reported that Mr Netanyahu had raised the possibility of a unilateral attack.
Israeli officials have also warned US counterparts that Mr Netanyahu may order strikes even if a deal is achieved, according to the report.
Experts and politicians in Israel are broadly of the opinion that it would be unthinkable for the Jewish state to act militarily against Iran without US cooperation.
This is because, in practical terms, they would need American hardware to ensure that the strikes were as effective as possible, and because Israel would not want to offend Mr Trump by upstaging his diplomatic efforts.
However, there is mounting concern that the US president might strike a 'soft' deal with Iran that will not go far enough in dismantling the country's nuclear production capability to guarantee Israel's security.
Strategists also worry that Israel may lose its optimum window to strike while Iran strings out the talks.
Iran is considered to be particularly vulnerable at the moment, after the IDF took out the bulk of its strategic air defence system last autumn.
The effective defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon also plays in Israel's favour because, under normal circumstances, attacking Iran would have provoked a barrage of rockets from the terror group.
However, both advantages are not expected to last indefinitely.
Mr Trump hinted at an agreement on Sunday when he said that there could be 'something good' coming from the talks, to which Israel is not a party.
The New York Times reported that sources close to the negotiations predicted a declaration of common principles in the coming days or weeks – essentially a stepping stone for a possible future deal.
On Friday, Iran said that it may allow US inspectors into the country if an agreement is reached.
Mohammad Eslami, Iran's nuclear chief, said: 'It is normal that inspectors from hostile countries are not allowed, but if a nuclear deal is reached, we might allow American inspectors working for the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit our nuclear sites.'
Israel worries that Mr Trump will agree to a deal similar to the agreement brokered by Barack Obama, which allowed Iran to keep its uranium enrichment facilities, subject to limitations.
Kristi Noem, the US homeland security secretary, told Fox News from Jerusalem on Monday: 'President Trump specifically sent me here to speak with the prime minister about how negotiations are going and how important it is that we stay united and let this process play out.'
She added that the conversation was 'quite candid and direct'.
Iran and the US are thought to be divided currently between the American demand that Iran halt all enrichment of nuclear material on its soil, which Tehran has rejected.
Iran claims its enrichment programme is for civilian use, a claim widely debunked by experts, who point to the 60 per cent enrichment they believe the Islamic Republic has already achieved, which is unnecessary for non-military use.
It was reported in April that Israel had planned strikes on Iran as early as May but were dissuaded by Mr Trump.
During his first term, the US president withdrew America from Mr Obama's JCPOA agreement, to which Britain is a signatory, and reintroduced sanctions.
However, in that time Iran has increased its enrichment activity and strategists fear that, if pushed, it could produce a crude nuclear device in a matter of weeks.
The JCPOA agreement was intended to ensure that Iran was always at least 12 months away from producing enough weapons-grade material to build a bomb.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for Mr Netanyahu's office described the New York Times story as 'fake news'.
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