23 feb 2015
Leaked cable reveals that Israeli intelligence thought Iran was much further from building nuclear weapons in 2012 than prime minister claimed in address to Congress.
Israel's intelligence agency said in a 2012 secret report that Iran was not quickly progressing towards building nuclear bombs, according to a Guardian article published on Sunday.
According to the report, two weeks after Benjamin Netanyahu's 2012 claim in Congress that Iran was a year away from a bomb, Mossad shared with South Africa that Iran was “not performing the activity necessary to produce weapons”.
The Guardian said the reports was one of hundreds of documents and cables leaked from the world's intelligence services, dating from as far back as 2006 to as recently December 2014.
The alleged Mossad report from October 2012 said Iran “does not appear to be ready” to enrich uranium at a high enough level to produce nuclear weapons, but that it was moving towards technology "which will reduce the time required to produce weapons ".
The report would, if authenticated, reveal a gap between public statements by Israel's top leaders and intelligence assessments.
The Guardian noted that Mossad and Netanyahu have had disagreements before; Meir Dagan, who ended his tenure as Mossad chief in 2010, said he had opposed an order by Netanyahu to prepare an attack on Iran.
The report in question is part of a large trove of secret communications leaked to Al Jazeera, which claimed to also possess documents showing that Mossad stole blueprints for anti-tank missiles from South Africa in 2010 and that this led to a cover-up.
The revelations come at a politically sensitive moment as the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany face a March 31 deadline to reach a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear programme in return for an easing of economic sanctions.
Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb, insisting that its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful energy purposes.
An Israeli government official told the Guardian that there was no contradiction between Netanyahu's statements and the report, claiming both state Iran was enriching uranium to produce weapons.
The leaked documents dating from 2006 to late 2014 consist mainly of communications between South Africa's intelligence agency and other agencies around the world, such as Britain's MI6, Russian intelligence and the CIA.
Israel's intelligence agency said in a 2012 secret report that Iran was not quickly progressing towards building nuclear bombs, according to a Guardian article published on Sunday.
According to the report, two weeks after Benjamin Netanyahu's 2012 claim in Congress that Iran was a year away from a bomb, Mossad shared with South Africa that Iran was “not performing the activity necessary to produce weapons”.
The Guardian said the reports was one of hundreds of documents and cables leaked from the world's intelligence services, dating from as far back as 2006 to as recently December 2014.
The alleged Mossad report from October 2012 said Iran “does not appear to be ready” to enrich uranium at a high enough level to produce nuclear weapons, but that it was moving towards technology "which will reduce the time required to produce weapons ".
The report would, if authenticated, reveal a gap between public statements by Israel's top leaders and intelligence assessments.
The Guardian noted that Mossad and Netanyahu have had disagreements before; Meir Dagan, who ended his tenure as Mossad chief in 2010, said he had opposed an order by Netanyahu to prepare an attack on Iran.
The report in question is part of a large trove of secret communications leaked to Al Jazeera, which claimed to also possess documents showing that Mossad stole blueprints for anti-tank missiles from South Africa in 2010 and that this led to a cover-up.
The revelations come at a politically sensitive moment as the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany face a March 31 deadline to reach a deal with Iran to limit its nuclear programme in return for an easing of economic sanctions.
Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb, insisting that its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful energy purposes.
An Israeli government official told the Guardian that there was no contradiction between Netanyahu's statements and the report, claiming both state Iran was enriching uranium to produce weapons.
The leaked documents dating from 2006 to late 2014 consist mainly of communications between South Africa's intelligence agency and other agencies around the world, such as Britain's MI6, Russian intelligence and the CIA.
Director of Hamas's foreign relations Osama Hamdan said his Movement continues to make efforts to rearrange its relations with Iran despite some attempts to smear those relations.
In a press release on Sunday, Hamdan stated that Hamas is meant to build bridges of good relations and cooperation with the Arab and Muslim countries, and the friends and supporters of the Palestinian cause in all parts of the world, including with Iran.
The Hamas official, in another context, deplored some Egyptian media figures for their smear campaign against the Movement, and urged the political leaders in Cairo to clarify their positions in this regard to put things into perspective.
"The ongoing media campaign against the Palestinian resistance cannot go beyond two things, either the people behind it are unaware of the importance of the Palestinian file and the fact that Egypt's strategic interests are with the Palestinians and not the Israelis, and if so, this is a disaster that needs a remedy, or that they wage this campaign with full awareness in the context of a war against the Palestinian resistance, and this is another disaster," he elaborated.
In a press release on Sunday, Hamdan stated that Hamas is meant to build bridges of good relations and cooperation with the Arab and Muslim countries, and the friends and supporters of the Palestinian cause in all parts of the world, including with Iran.
The Hamas official, in another context, deplored some Egyptian media figures for their smear campaign against the Movement, and urged the political leaders in Cairo to clarify their positions in this regard to put things into perspective.
"The ongoing media campaign against the Palestinian resistance cannot go beyond two things, either the people behind it are unaware of the importance of the Palestinian file and the fact that Egypt's strategic interests are with the Palestinians and not the Israelis, and if so, this is a disaster that needs a remedy, or that they wage this campaign with full awareness in the context of a war against the Palestinian resistance, and this is another disaster," he elaborated.
22 feb 2015
UN report says Tehran was continuing to withhold full cooperation regarding allegations of explosives tests and other activity that could be used to develop nuclear bombs.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he found it "astonishing" that Iran nuclear negotiations were continuing even after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that Tehran was hiding military components of its atom program.
A confidential document by the IAEA, distributed among its member states on Thursday and obtained by Reuters, said Tehran was continuing to withhold full cooperation in two areas of a long-running IAEA investigation that it had committed to giving by August last year.
"Iran has not provided any explanations that enable the agency to clarify the outstanding practical measures," the IAEA said, referring to allegations of explosives tests and other activity that could be used to develop nuclear bombs.
"Not only are they continuing (the talks), there is an increased effort to reach a nuclear agreement in the coming days and weeks," Netanyahu said.
"Therefore, the coming month is critical for the nuclear talks between Iran and the major powers because a framework agreement is liable to be signed that will allow Iran to develop the nuclear capabilities that threaten our existence," he added.
Netanyahu reiterated that the deal being formulated between Iran and world powers was "dangerous" for Israel. "Therefore I will go to the US next week in order to explain to the American Congress, which could influence the fate of the agreement, why this agreement is dangerous for Israel, the region and the entire world," he said.
In Geneva, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will try to narrow gaps in another round of nuclear talks on Sunday as they press to meet a March 31 deadline for a political framework agreement.
The talks will be joined for the first time by US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, who agreed to attend after Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said he would take part. A close aide and the brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Hossein Fereydoon, will also be part of the meetings, Iranian media reported. Kerry was due to arrive in Geneva in the early afternoon, then immediately meet with the US delegation, which has been in Geneva since Friday. After that he planned to meet Zarif and the Iranian delegation.
The Secretary of State said on Saturday the presence of Moniz reflected the highly technical nature of the current talks and in no way meant "that something is about to be decided." However, Kerry said the sides were working with urgency to meet the March 31 target for a political agreement, which would give impetus for further talks.
"There is still a distance to travel," Kerry said in London where he met British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. The negotiations between Iran and "P5+1" powers - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - have reached a sensitive stage with gaps remaining, mainly over Iranian uranium enrichment and the pace of removing sanctions. Kerry said US President Barack Obama was not inclined to extend the talks again.
The parties already missed a November 2014 target date. Obama believed it was "imperative to be able to come to a fundamental political outline and agreement within the time space that we have left," Kerry said. "If that can't be done, it would be an indication that fundamental choices are not being made that are essential to doing that," Kerry added, also emphasizing that Obama was prepared to halt the talks if he thought they were not being productive.
The recent UN report also said that Iran had refrained from expanding tests of more efficient models of a machine used to refine uranium under a nuclear agreement with the six world powers. Development of advanced centrifuges is feared to lead to material potentially suitable for manufacture of nuclear bombs.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he found it "astonishing" that Iran nuclear negotiations were continuing even after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that Tehran was hiding military components of its atom program.
A confidential document by the IAEA, distributed among its member states on Thursday and obtained by Reuters, said Tehran was continuing to withhold full cooperation in two areas of a long-running IAEA investigation that it had committed to giving by August last year.
"Iran has not provided any explanations that enable the agency to clarify the outstanding practical measures," the IAEA said, referring to allegations of explosives tests and other activity that could be used to develop nuclear bombs.
"Not only are they continuing (the talks), there is an increased effort to reach a nuclear agreement in the coming days and weeks," Netanyahu said.
"Therefore, the coming month is critical for the nuclear talks between Iran and the major powers because a framework agreement is liable to be signed that will allow Iran to develop the nuclear capabilities that threaten our existence," he added.
Netanyahu reiterated that the deal being formulated between Iran and world powers was "dangerous" for Israel. "Therefore I will go to the US next week in order to explain to the American Congress, which could influence the fate of the agreement, why this agreement is dangerous for Israel, the region and the entire world," he said.
In Geneva, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif will try to narrow gaps in another round of nuclear talks on Sunday as they press to meet a March 31 deadline for a political framework agreement.
The talks will be joined for the first time by US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, who agreed to attend after Iran's nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said he would take part. A close aide and the brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Hossein Fereydoon, will also be part of the meetings, Iranian media reported. Kerry was due to arrive in Geneva in the early afternoon, then immediately meet with the US delegation, which has been in Geneva since Friday. After that he planned to meet Zarif and the Iranian delegation.
The Secretary of State said on Saturday the presence of Moniz reflected the highly technical nature of the current talks and in no way meant "that something is about to be decided." However, Kerry said the sides were working with urgency to meet the March 31 target for a political agreement, which would give impetus for further talks.
"There is still a distance to travel," Kerry said in London where he met British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. The negotiations between Iran and "P5+1" powers - the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China - have reached a sensitive stage with gaps remaining, mainly over Iranian uranium enrichment and the pace of removing sanctions. Kerry said US President Barack Obama was not inclined to extend the talks again.
The parties already missed a November 2014 target date. Obama believed it was "imperative to be able to come to a fundamental political outline and agreement within the time space that we have left," Kerry said. "If that can't be done, it would be an indication that fundamental choices are not being made that are essential to doing that," Kerry added, also emphasizing that Obama was prepared to halt the talks if he thought they were not being productive.
The recent UN report also said that Iran had refrained from expanding tests of more efficient models of a machine used to refine uranium under a nuclear agreement with the six world powers. Development of advanced centrifuges is feared to lead to material potentially suitable for manufacture of nuclear bombs.
As a reaction to the highly unanticipated speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Congress, next month, the White House is reportedly planning a series of procedures in reaction to the unwelcome visit.
A source in the White House reported to the Associated Press that one of the possible procedures being considered is a boycott of the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, which is holding its annual meeting while Netanyahu is in Washington.
The procedures, PNN reports, could also involve a presidential interview with a prominent journalist known for coverage of the rift between Obama and Netanyahu, and multiple Sunday show television appearances by senior national security officials to talk about the US stance on Iran's nuclear program.
The White House is also considering stiff strategies, including dispatching Cabinet members out of the country and sending a lower-ranking official to represent the administration at the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Netanyahu's plan for a March 3 address to a joint meeting of Congress has further strained already tense ties between the US and Israel. Congressional Republicans orchestrated Netanyahu's visit without consulting the White House or State Department, a move the Obama administration blasted as a break in diplomatic protocol. Some Democratic lawmakers say they will boycott the speech.
Iranian Vice President Ali Akbar Saleh will meet Ernest Moniz, United States Secretary of Energy in Geneva, where discussion between Iranian and American experts about the Iranian nuclear program will take place for two days.
Iranian and American Foreign Ministers Mohammad Jawad Thareef and John Kerry will join the meeting in Geneva, on Sunday.
A source in the White House reported to the Associated Press that one of the possible procedures being considered is a boycott of the pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC, which is holding its annual meeting while Netanyahu is in Washington.
The procedures, PNN reports, could also involve a presidential interview with a prominent journalist known for coverage of the rift between Obama and Netanyahu, and multiple Sunday show television appearances by senior national security officials to talk about the US stance on Iran's nuclear program.
The White House is also considering stiff strategies, including dispatching Cabinet members out of the country and sending a lower-ranking official to represent the administration at the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Netanyahu's plan for a March 3 address to a joint meeting of Congress has further strained already tense ties between the US and Israel. Congressional Republicans orchestrated Netanyahu's visit without consulting the White House or State Department, a move the Obama administration blasted as a break in diplomatic protocol. Some Democratic lawmakers say they will boycott the speech.
Iranian Vice President Ali Akbar Saleh will meet Ernest Moniz, United States Secretary of Energy in Geneva, where discussion between Iranian and American experts about the Iranian nuclear program will take place for two days.
Iranian and American Foreign Ministers Mohammad Jawad Thareef and John Kerry will join the meeting in Geneva, on Sunday.
20 feb 2015
Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the agency’s leaked report verifies Tehran’s “full transparency” in its nuclear program.
“Iran has cooperated completely and indeed made the possibility for the IAEA to verify all aspects of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and … the technical details of the report show full transparency on behalf of Iran,” said Reza Najafi in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Friday.
The report also shows that the agency has had “full monitoring” over Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, Najafi added.
“The major part [of the report] is related to the implementation of the safeguard agreements which indicates that IAEA has full monitoring over all places and activities with details of the locations, the number of centrifuges, the amount of materials whether enriched or not enriched,” he stated.
The Iranian official rejected as undocumented the IAEA’s claims with regard to Iran’s Marivan site, saying the agency has failed to provide any evidence for its allegations so far.
“The repetition of such claims would not add to the value of such claims,” Najafi noted, adding, “It is up to the agency to ask those member states who gave the information, or in our view wrong information, to the agency to enable the agency to verify the claims and allegations.”
On November 20, 2014, Najafi said Iran will on a “voluntarily basis” give the Vienna-based IAEA access to the Marivan site, located more than 700 kilometers (434 miles) west of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
On December 11, 2014, the IAEA claimed that the offer does not help address the agency's concerns pertaining to the issue of alleged high-explosive experiments at the site.
An IAEA report in 2011 claimed that it had information indicating large-scale high-explosive experiments were conducted at the site. Tehran has categorically dismissed the allegation.
The latest IAEA report comes as Iran and the US started a new round of nuclear talks in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman held talks on Friday.
Iran and the P5+1 countries – Russia, China, France, Britain, the United States and Germany – are seeking to seal a high-profile political deal by the end of March and to confirm the full technical details of the accord by July 1.
The scale of Iran’s uranium enrichment and the timetable for the removal of anti-Iran sanctions are seen as the major stumbling blocks in the talks.
Iran has so far suspended some of its enrichment program in return for certain sanctions relief.
“Iran has cooperated completely and indeed made the possibility for the IAEA to verify all aspects of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and … the technical details of the report show full transparency on behalf of Iran,” said Reza Najafi in an exclusive interview with Press TV on Friday.
The report also shows that the agency has had “full monitoring” over Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, Najafi added.
“The major part [of the report] is related to the implementation of the safeguard agreements which indicates that IAEA has full monitoring over all places and activities with details of the locations, the number of centrifuges, the amount of materials whether enriched or not enriched,” he stated.
The Iranian official rejected as undocumented the IAEA’s claims with regard to Iran’s Marivan site, saying the agency has failed to provide any evidence for its allegations so far.
“The repetition of such claims would not add to the value of such claims,” Najafi noted, adding, “It is up to the agency to ask those member states who gave the information, or in our view wrong information, to the agency to enable the agency to verify the claims and allegations.”
On November 20, 2014, Najafi said Iran will on a “voluntarily basis” give the Vienna-based IAEA access to the Marivan site, located more than 700 kilometers (434 miles) west of the Iranian capital, Tehran.
On December 11, 2014, the IAEA claimed that the offer does not help address the agency's concerns pertaining to the issue of alleged high-explosive experiments at the site.
An IAEA report in 2011 claimed that it had information indicating large-scale high-explosive experiments were conducted at the site. Tehran has categorically dismissed the allegation.
The latest IAEA report comes as Iran and the US started a new round of nuclear talks in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman held talks on Friday.
Iran and the P5+1 countries – Russia, China, France, Britain, the United States and Germany – are seeking to seal a high-profile political deal by the end of March and to confirm the full technical details of the accord by July 1.
The scale of Iran’s uranium enrichment and the timetable for the removal of anti-Iran sanctions are seen as the major stumbling blocks in the talks.
Iran has so far suspended some of its enrichment program in return for certain sanctions relief.
Yisrael Beiteinu leader downplays significance of Prime Minister Netanyahu's planned US speech on Iran nuclear program, urges firm stance on Iran.
Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman made comments Friday night downplaying the significance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech before Congress next month about the threats of Iran's nuclear program.
"In two previous occasions, when Menachem Begin made the decision to destroy the Iraqi nuclear reactor, there were no speeches or public debates. We woke up one morning – and there was no reactor. The same goes for what we read in the press about Syria. We woke up one morning and the reactor was gone. No speeches or tales were involved," Lieberman said, speaking to Channel 2 News on Friday.
The foreign minister added, "it's not my place to analyze the prime minister and he is familiar with and knows the international arena just as well as I do. It doesn't seem right to hand out grades to Netanyahu less than a month before elections, but just as in previous occasions, ultimately it is our responsibility and we have to make decisions."
Commenting on differences between Israel and the US over Iran, Lieberman said: "With all due respect to the US government, this is our issue and our responsibility. We need determination here, and have to stop with the constant whining. No agreement will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. We must decide and act accordingly."
The conflict between Israel and US over the Iran nuclear talks took another turn this week when the White House said that Israeli officials had mischaracterized US negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and criticized what it called "a continued practice of cherry-picking" and leaking information out of context.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama administration is mindful of the need to keep the negotiations private and accused Israel of distorting the US' position.
"I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," Earnest said at a news briefing.
"There's no question that some of the things that the Israelis have said in characterizing our negotiating position have not been accurate," he added. "There's no question about that."
He also denied reports that Washington is limiting the information it gives Israel about the Iran talks. "I know that there were some initial reports that indicated that the United States is no longer communicating with our allies in Israel about the ongoing negotiations with Iran. That obviously is false," Earnest said.
"There are any number of meetings that have taken place in recent weeks and are scheduled for the weeks ahead that indicate the continued close communication and coordination between US national security officials and their Israel counterparts," he added.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, also accused Israel of "selective sharing of information" but declined to say what information had been cherry-picked.
"I think it is safe to say not everything you are hearing from the Israeli government is an accurate reflection of the details of the talks," Psaki said.
The negotiations between the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and Iran have reached a crucial stage, as the countries previously agreed to deliver a basic framework agreement by the end of March and a final agreement due by June 30.
Earnest would not discuss details of US-Israeli consultations on Iran nuclear negotiations.
"But I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," he said.
Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman made comments Friday night downplaying the significance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech before Congress next month about the threats of Iran's nuclear program.
"In two previous occasions, when Menachem Begin made the decision to destroy the Iraqi nuclear reactor, there were no speeches or public debates. We woke up one morning – and there was no reactor. The same goes for what we read in the press about Syria. We woke up one morning and the reactor was gone. No speeches or tales were involved," Lieberman said, speaking to Channel 2 News on Friday.
The foreign minister added, "it's not my place to analyze the prime minister and he is familiar with and knows the international arena just as well as I do. It doesn't seem right to hand out grades to Netanyahu less than a month before elections, but just as in previous occasions, ultimately it is our responsibility and we have to make decisions."
Commenting on differences between Israel and the US over Iran, Lieberman said: "With all due respect to the US government, this is our issue and our responsibility. We need determination here, and have to stop with the constant whining. No agreement will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. We must decide and act accordingly."
The conflict between Israel and US over the Iran nuclear talks took another turn this week when the White House said that Israeli officials had mischaracterized US negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and criticized what it called "a continued practice of cherry-picking" and leaking information out of context.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama administration is mindful of the need to keep the negotiations private and accused Israel of distorting the US' position.
"I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," Earnest said at a news briefing.
"There's no question that some of the things that the Israelis have said in characterizing our negotiating position have not been accurate," he added. "There's no question about that."
He also denied reports that Washington is limiting the information it gives Israel about the Iran talks. "I know that there were some initial reports that indicated that the United States is no longer communicating with our allies in Israel about the ongoing negotiations with Iran. That obviously is false," Earnest said.
"There are any number of meetings that have taken place in recent weeks and are scheduled for the weeks ahead that indicate the continued close communication and coordination between US national security officials and their Israel counterparts," he added.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, also accused Israel of "selective sharing of information" but declined to say what information had been cherry-picked.
"I think it is safe to say not everything you are hearing from the Israeli government is an accurate reflection of the details of the talks," Psaki said.
The negotiations between the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and Iran have reached a crucial stage, as the countries previously agreed to deliver a basic framework agreement by the end of March and a final agreement due by June 30.
Earnest would not discuss details of US-Israeli consultations on Iran nuclear negotiations.
"But I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," he said.
18 feb 2015
White House says Israeli officials mischaracterized US negotiations on Iran nuclear program and criticizes 'continued practice of cherry-picking' and leaking information out of context.
The White House said on Wednesday that Israeli officials had mischaracterized US negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and criticized what it called "a continued practice of cherry-picking" and leaking information out of context.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama administration is mindful of the need to keep the negotiations private and accused Israel of distorting the US' position.
"I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," Earnest said at a news briefing.
"There's no question that some of the things that the Israelis have said in characterizing our negotiating position have not been accurate," he added. "There's no question about that."
He also denied reports that Washington is limiting the information it gives Israel about the Iran talks. "I know that there were some initial reports that indicated that the United States is no longer communicating with our allies in Israel about the ongoing negotiations with Iran. That obviously is false," Earnest said.
"There are any number of meetings that have taken place in recent weeks and are scheduled for the weeks ahead that indicate the continued close communication and coordination between US national security officials and their Israel counterparts," he added.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, also accused Israel of "selective sharing of information" but declined to say what information had been cherry-picked. "I think it is safe to say not everything you are hearing from the Israeli government is an accurate reflection of the details of the talks," Psaki said. The negotiations between the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and Iran have reached a crucial stage, as the countries previously agreed to deliver a basic framework agreement by the end of March and a final agreement due by June 30. Earnest would not discuss details of US-Israeli consultations on Iran nuclear negotiations.
"But I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," he said.
The White House said on Wednesday that Israeli officials had mischaracterized US negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and criticized what it called "a continued practice of cherry-picking" and leaking information out of context.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama administration is mindful of the need to keep the negotiations private and accused Israel of distorting the US' position.
"I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," Earnest said at a news briefing.
"There's no question that some of the things that the Israelis have said in characterizing our negotiating position have not been accurate," he added. "There's no question about that."
He also denied reports that Washington is limiting the information it gives Israel about the Iran talks. "I know that there were some initial reports that indicated that the United States is no longer communicating with our allies in Israel about the ongoing negotiations with Iran. That obviously is false," Earnest said.
"There are any number of meetings that have taken place in recent weeks and are scheduled for the weeks ahead that indicate the continued close communication and coordination between US national security officials and their Israel counterparts," he added.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, also accused Israel of "selective sharing of information" but declined to say what information had been cherry-picked. "I think it is safe to say not everything you are hearing from the Israeli government is an accurate reflection of the details of the talks," Psaki said. The negotiations between the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and Iran have reached a crucial stage, as the countries previously agreed to deliver a basic framework agreement by the end of March and a final agreement due by June 30. Earnest would not discuss details of US-Israeli consultations on Iran nuclear negotiations.
"But I think it is fair to say that the United States is mindful of the need to not negotiate in public and ensure that information that's discussed in the negotiating table is not taken out of context and publicized in a way that distorts the negotiating position of the United States and our allies," he said.
16 feb 2015
Deputy chief commander of Iran's army Masoud Jazaeri has said that Iran has solid relations with the Hamas Movement and considers itself its partner in resisting the Israeli occupation.
Jazaeri made his remarks in a press interview in response to a question about the media attacks in Lebanon and Iran against Hamas and its political leadership.
"The resistance fighters in the occupied lands are dear to us and their respect is a must. We are working for the same project and we have to walk together on the path of opposing and fighting the Zionist entity and America," the Iranian military official stated.
"Those who are resisting and fighting the enemies in the occupied territories are in fact fighting for the sake of Islam, so helping them is an obligation and duty upon all Muslims. The basic and unwavering strategy is that the relationship with Hamas is solid and that we can overcome all secondary issues," he added.
"We are the partners of Hamas in the resistance, and the fighters in the occupied territories should march step by step until inflicting a decisive defeat on this usurping entity, and cooperate in all situations," the Iranian official underlined.
Jazaeri made his remarks in a press interview in response to a question about the media attacks in Lebanon and Iran against Hamas and its political leadership.
"The resistance fighters in the occupied lands are dear to us and their respect is a must. We are working for the same project and we have to walk together on the path of opposing and fighting the Zionist entity and America," the Iranian military official stated.
"Those who are resisting and fighting the enemies in the occupied territories are in fact fighting for the sake of Islam, so helping them is an obligation and duty upon all Muslims. The basic and unwavering strategy is that the relationship with Hamas is solid and that we can overcome all secondary issues," he added.
"We are the partners of Hamas in the resistance, and the fighters in the occupied territories should march step by step until inflicting a decisive defeat on this usurping entity, and cooperate in all situations," the Iranian official underlined.
15 feb 2015
14 feb 2015
Iran's supreme leader has sent a secret but noncommittal letter to US President Barack Obama in response to American overtures, amid talks to strike a nuclear accord, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The newspaper cited an Iranian diplomat as saying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had written to Obama in response to the president's letter sent in October.
Obama's correspondence had suggested potential US-Iranian cooperation in fighting the Islamic State group if a deal on Iran's nuclear program was struck, the diplomat told the Journal.
The supreme leader's response was "respectful" but noncommittal, the diplomat was quoted as saying. Khamenei has the final word on all matters of state in Iran.
Current and former US officials who viewed the correspondence said Khamenei's letter outlined a string of abuses he claimed the United States had committed against the Iranian people during the past 60 years.
Neither the White House nor the Iranian government has officially confirmed any correspondence between the two leaders.
Talks with Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- the so-called P5+1 group -- seek to allay concerns that Iran is covertly seeking to develop a nuclear bomb, in exchange for lifting punishing sanctions.
Two deadlines for a permanent nuclear agreement have already been missed, since an interim accord was struck in November 2013.
The P5+1 has now set a March 31 deadline for a political agreement.
It would be followed by a final deal setting out all the technical points of what would be a complex accord by June 30.
Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb and says its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes.
The newspaper cited an Iranian diplomat as saying Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had written to Obama in response to the president's letter sent in October.
Obama's correspondence had suggested potential US-Iranian cooperation in fighting the Islamic State group if a deal on Iran's nuclear program was struck, the diplomat told the Journal.
The supreme leader's response was "respectful" but noncommittal, the diplomat was quoted as saying. Khamenei has the final word on all matters of state in Iran.
Current and former US officials who viewed the correspondence said Khamenei's letter outlined a string of abuses he claimed the United States had committed against the Iranian people during the past 60 years.
Neither the White House nor the Iranian government has officially confirmed any correspondence between the two leaders.
Talks with Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- the so-called P5+1 group -- seek to allay concerns that Iran is covertly seeking to develop a nuclear bomb, in exchange for lifting punishing sanctions.
Two deadlines for a permanent nuclear agreement have already been missed, since an interim accord was struck in November 2013.
The P5+1 has now set a March 31 deadline for a political agreement.
It would be followed by a final deal setting out all the technical points of what would be a complex accord by June 30.
Iran denies seeking an atomic bomb and says its nuclear program is for peaceful energy purposes.