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Iran nuclear deal: Israel attacks Iran as talks progress Iran nuclear deal: Israel attacks Iran as talks progress
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Bennett made the comments at a cabinet meeting on SundayPrime Minister Bennett made the comments at a cabinet meeting on Sunday
Israel's Prime Minister has called on the US and its allies to "wake up" to the threat of Iran as talks continue to revive a landmark deal to limit the country's nuclear programme. Israel's prime minister has called on the US and its allies to "wake up" to the threat of Iran as talks continue to revive a landmark deal to limit the country's nuclear programme.
Naftali Bennett said Iran's "regime of brutal hangmen" wants nuclear weapons - something Iran has repeatedly denied. Naftali Bennett said Iran's "regime of brutal hangmen" wants nuclear weapons, something Iran has repeatedly denied.
Diplomats said progress was made in Vienna today to renew the deal, which the US withdrew from under President Trump. Diplomats said progress was made to renew the deal, which the US withdrew from under President Donald Trump, but there were still gaps to be bridged.
Israel opposes the agreement.Israel opposes the agreement.
Iran elected hardliner Ebrahim Raisi as its new president on Friday. Iran elected hardliner Ebrahim Raisi, the country's top judge who holds ultra-conservative views, as new president on Friday, in a race widely seen as being designed to favour him.
The election race was widely seen as being designed to favour Mr Raisi. The president-elect - who will be inaugurated in August - is under US sanctions and has been linked to past executions of political prisoners. He is is Iran's top judge and holds ultra-conservative views. The president-elect - who will be inaugurated in August - is under US sanctions and has been linked to past executions of political prisoners.
Who is Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's next president?Who is Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's next president?
Iran nuclear crisis in 300 wordsIran nuclear crisis in 300 words
Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful. Suspicions it was being used a cover to build a nuclear bomb led to crippling sanctions from the EU, US and UN Security Council in 2010. Negotiators from the six signatory countries - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - and Iran have been holding talks since April to revive the deal, which saw Iran limit its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief.
Five years later Iran reached a deal with six powers - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - that saw it limit its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. Israel however condemned the deal. Iran, however, has been violating the deal since the US unilaterally left it.
Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and brought back in the tough sanctions. His successor Joe Biden is now looking for a way for the US to rejoin. On Sunday, the countries gathered for a sixth round of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Vienna, but adjourned for the delegates to return to their capitals.
What happened in Vienna? Iran nuclear crisis: The basics
Negotiators from the six signatory countries and Iran have been holding talks in Austria's capital Vienna since April. World powers don't trust Iran: Some countries believe Iran wants nuclear power because it wants to build a nuclear bomb - it denies this.
On Sunday they gathered for a sixth round of indirect talks between the US and Iran about reviving the agreement, but adjourned for the delegates to return to their capitals. So a deal was struck: In 2015, Iran and six other countries reached a major agreement. Iran would stop some nuclear work in return for an end to harsh penalties, or sanctions, hurting its economy.
A spokesman for the US State Department earlier said the indirect talks would still continue after Mr Raisi takes power. What is the problem now? Iran re-started banned nuclear work after former US President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iran. Even though new leader Joe Biden wants to rejoin, both sides say the other must make the first move.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state television on Sunday that the parties are "now closer than ever" to a deal, but added that bridging the remaining distance between them "is not an easy job". He said the Iranian team will now return to Tehran for consultations. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state television the parties were "now closer than ever" to a deal, but added that bridging the remaining distance between them was "not an easy job".
Enrique Mora, envoy for the EU, echoed Mr Araqchi, saying progress on technical issues had given them greater clarity, giving them a "clear idea of what the political problems are".
The US national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said there was "still a fair distance to travel" on issues including sanctions and on the commitments Iran needed to make. Iran is currently enriching uranium at its highest levels ever, although still short of what is needed to make nuclear-grade weapons.
A spokesman for the US state department earlier said the indirect talks would still continue after Mr Raisi takes power.
Iran election: Wariness and welcome for Ebrahim RaisiIran election: Wariness and welcome for Ebrahim Raisi
Enrique Mora, envoy for the EU, echoed Mr Araqchi. "We are closer than we were one week ago. But we are not still there," he said. Progress on technical issues has given them greater clarity, he said, and "allows us to have also a clear idea of what the political problems are."
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan meanwhile said there was "still a fair distance to travel" on issues including sanctions, adding that the final decision lies with Iran.
Why does Israel oppose the deal?Why does Israel oppose the deal?
Iran and Israel have been in a long-running "shadow war", which has resulted in both countries taking part in tit-for-tat actions, but so far avoiding all-out conflict.Iran and Israel have been in a long-running "shadow war", which has resulted in both countries taking part in tit-for-tat actions, but so far avoiding all-out conflict.
Ayatollah Khamenei - Iran's supreme leader - has repeatedly called for the elimination of the state of Israel. In 2018, he described the country as a "cancerous tumour" that had to be removed from the region.Ayatollah Khamenei - Iran's supreme leader - has repeatedly called for the elimination of the state of Israel. In 2018, he described the country as a "cancerous tumour" that had to be removed from the region.
Israel ex-top spy reveals operations against IranIsrael ex-top spy reveals operations against Iran
Iran and Israel's shadow war takes a dangerous turnIran and Israel's shadow war takes a dangerous turn
Israel sees Iran as a major threat and has repeatedly insisted that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons. Israel sees Iran as a major threat and has repeatedly insisted that it wants to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran is currently enriching uranium at its highest levels ever - although still short of what is needed to make nuclear-grade weapons. Prime Minister Bennett told his cabinet this was "the last chance for world powers to wake up... and understand who they are doing business with".
Israel's new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told his cabinet on Sunday that this was "the last chance for world powers to wake up... and understand who they are doing business with".
"A regime of brutal hangmen must never be allowed to have weapons of mass destruction.""A regime of brutal hangmen must never be allowed to have weapons of mass destruction."
Prime Minister Bennett made the comments at a cabinet meeting on Sunday Recently the hostilities between the two countries have escalated again. Iran blames Israel for the murder of its top nuclear scientist last year and an attack on one of its uranium enrichment plants in April.
Recently the hostilities between the two countries have escalated again.
Iran blames Israel for the murder of its top nuclear scientist last year and an attack on one of its uranium enrichment plants in April.