Netanyahu’s Iran revelations: was there anything we didn’t know already?

Published: 3 May 2018

Last updated: 4 March 2024

The PM’s address was essentially a history lesson aimed at persuading the US to opt out of the Iran deal. He did not show any convincing evidence that Iran is in breach of the agreement

Iran nuclear: What's changed after Netanyahu's presentation? (BBC)
The purpose and timing of Netanyahu's presentation was clear: to discredit the Iran nuclear deal, and to influence one man - Donald Trump. The US president must decide by mid-May whether to walk away from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) or to stick with it.

So what did Mr Netanyahu actually tell us? It was in large part a reminder that Iran, despite all its denials, did have elements of a nuclear weapons program and that it retains the scientific know-how to reactivate such a program if it ever wanted to. That is not news to the major powers who signed up to the nuclear deal with Iran. Indeed, it was why they sought a nuclear agreement with Tehran in the first place.

Netanyahu changes tune: No longer says Trump's 'about to nix' Iran nuclear deal, now says 'it's in his hands' (Haaretz)
Diplomatic sources believe PM wants to avoid perception that Israel is meddling in U.S. affairs

Netanyahu is playing to Trump’s abject ignorance — and it might work (Washington Post)

For Netanyahu, Israel’s only problem is Iran (Al-Monitor)
AKIVA ELDAR Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pretends the Iranian threat is the only problem that Israel faces.

Photo: Reuters