Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that any nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran must go beyond merely pausing Tehran’s uranium enrichment and should require the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Reuters reported. He made the remarks at the annual Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu told U.S. President Donald Trump that enriched nuclear material must be removed from Iran, and that facilities and equipment enabling enrichment should be taken apart, not simply shut down temporarily. His comments come as diplomats prepare for a second round of talks in Geneva aimed at addressing the long-standing dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.
The Israeli leader’s demands highlight deep skepticism in Jerusalem about reviving any deal resembling the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, under which Iran had limited enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, but was criticized by Israel for leaving significant nuclear capabilities intact.
Netanyahu also touched on other security issues during his speech, including efforts to destroy cross-border tunnels in Gaza and proposals to phase out U.S. military aid to Israel over the next decade, as the country seeks a more independent defense posture.
The comments come amid an ongoing diplomatic push by Washington to negotiate constraints on Iran’s nuclear activities and avoid a wider military confrontation. While U.S. officials have said talks could yield economic and security benefits for both sides, Israel insists any accord must address a broader set of concerns and significantly reduce Tehran’s atomic capabilities.