Israel’s response to Iran’s nuclear program continues, most recently Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
An Israeli statement said Bennett told the International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday that Israel would prefer a diplomatic solution to a confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program, but “may take independent action.”
“Israel reserves the right to defend itself and to take action against Iran to suspend its nuclear program, provided that the international community within the time frame,” Bennett was quoted as saying by Bennett Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. “It’s not appropriate to do that.”
Grossi arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, according to Reuters.
On Wednesday, Israel acknowledged that it had evidence that Iran had stolen IAEA secret documents nearly two decades ago and used them from international inspectors to cover up its nuclear activities.
The Israeli prime minister released the documents to the media, and his office said the documents were part of a collection of Iranian nuclear files obtained by Israel in 2018, but were not released to the public.
Bennett said he shared the documents in response to remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, who called the allegations “false.”
And Bennett added in a video clip released by the media: “Are you spreading lies? Come on! I have proof of your lies here.”
The Israeli official continued: “After Iran stole the IAEA secret documents, Iran used this information to find out what the IAEA hopes to gain access to, then created cover stories to prevent its nuclear research. Hid evidence.
Iran insists its plan is for peaceful purposes, although UN experts and Western intelligence agencies say Tehran had an organized military nuclear program until 2003.
Source: Lebanon Debate
