Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Netanyahu's 'Septet' discusses response to Iran nuke deal


JPOST.COM STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS
18/05/2010 11:28

Urgent meeting held to discuss deal brokered by Brazil, Turkey; PM instructs key ministers not to make public announcements.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met with the "Septet" of seven key ministers on Tuesday, to discuss Israel's response to the Iranian nuclear fuel reprocessing agreement, brokered by Brazil and Turkey. Netanyahu set the meeting on Monday, instructing his ministers not to make any public pronouncements before they had more information regarding the content of the agreement Iran signed the agreement with Turkey and Brazil on Monday, in the face of growing likelihood of UN Security Council sanctions. Turkey and Brazil are currently non-permanent members of the Security Council, and Brazil is seeking a permanent seat on the council. Both countries have strong economic ties with Iran.

The new agreement is similar to an earlier agreement, also used to offset sanctions, in which Iran was supposed to ship its enriched uranium to Russia, for processing into fuel rods that could not be used for weapons. On that occasion, Iran refused to implement the agreement.

The US, Britain and Germany have responded to the agreement with caution and are continuing to push for sanctions. Russia and China have welcomed the deal, but Medvedev has advised caution.

Under the deal Iran will ship most, but not all, of its enriched uranium to Turkey and in return receive uranium fuel rods for research, which cannot be used for weapons. In the event that the fuel rods are not delivered to Iran within a year, Turkey undertakes to return the original uranium to Iran.

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