Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that though Israel is not part of the P5+1 group, the country's voice has played critical role in the talks on Iranian nuclear program.TEL AVIV, December 8 (Sputnik) Israel has played a key role inmaking sure that talks onIranian nuclear program betweenTehran and a group ofinternational mediators inNovember would end withouta "bad deal", Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahusaid Sunday.
"The agreement, which has not been reached last month, was leaving Iran ina status ofbeing ona threshold ofbecoming a nuclear state. Even though Israel is not part ofthe P5+1 group, our voice and our worries have played a critical role indisallowance ofa bad agreement," Netanyahu said speaking atthe Middle East forum inWashington.
Israeli Prime Minister added that it is necessary toincrease pressure onIran tomake sure it abandons its nuclear program.
Israel and the West have long accused Iran ofattempting todevelop a nuclear weapon underthe guise ofa civilian nuclear program, while Tehran argues that its nuclear development is aimed purely atmeeting the country's growing energy needs.
In November 2013, duringtalks held inGeneva, the P5+1 group ofinternational mediators comprising Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Germany agreed toreach a deal withthe Tehran delegation guaranteeing the peaceful nature ofthe Iranian nuclear program byJuly 2014. The deadline forthe agreement was later postponed toNovember 24, 2014.
Netanyahu always spoke againsttheP5+1talks withIran, arguing that more radical measures should be taken tomake sure Tehran wont develop a nuclear weapon.
At the latest roundof talks betweenIran and the P5+1 countries held inVienna, the parties failed toreach a comprehensive deal onIran's nuclear program bythe earlier set November 24 deadline. The sides agreed toprolong the Geneva agreements and continue their dialogue untilJuly 2015.
By Sputnik News
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