US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Villa Taverna in Rome, yesterday. Photo: ReutersUS and Israeli officials differed over Iran’s nuclear programme yesterday as Israel called for its effective dismantlement and the United States suggested better safeguards could assure that it is peaceful rather than military in nature.
US Secretary of State John Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke as they began talks that were also expected to cover Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations but appeared likely to be overshadowed by Iran.
Hints of a possible US-Iranian rapprochement, including President Barack Obama’s phone call with new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and revived nuclear talks between Tehran and six major powers, have unnerved Arab states and Israel, which see any potential Iranian nuclear arms programme as a direct threat.
“Iran must not have a nuclear weapons capability, which means that they shouldn’t have centrifuges (for) enrichment, they shouldn’t have a plutonium heavy-water plant, which is used only for nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu told reporters as he and Kerry began what was expected to be several hours of talks.
“They should get rid of (their stockpiled) fissile material, and they shouldn’t have underground nuclear facilities, (which are) underground for one reason – for military purposes.” He called Iran’s programme the region’s foremost security problem.
The Islamic Republic says it is enriching uranium solely for electricity and medical treatments, not nuclear weapons. But its past concealment of sensitive activities from UN inspectors and continued restrictions on monitoring have raised suspicions.
Kerry, whose aides are exploring a diplomatic solution to rein in Iran’s nuclear activity, took a tack different from Netanyahu, suggesting Iran could show its programme was peaceful by adhering to international standards.
“We will pursue a diplomatic initiative but with eyes wide open, aware that it will be vital for Iran to live up to the standards that other nations that have nuclear programs live up to as they prove that those programmes are indeed peaceful,” he said as he and Netanyahu began what were expected to be several hours of talks at the US ambassador’s residence in Rome.
Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States are due to hold a second round of these talks with Iran on November 7-8, also in Geneva.