Netanyahu to present Trump with Israel’s position that nuclear deal with Iran must be cancelled or significantly changed, with harsher sanctions, increased supervision and commitment from Tehran to stop supporting Hezbollah and Hamas; PM to also present these demands during UN speech.

The Iranian threat will be at the top of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agenda in his meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York on Monday.

American officials said the meeting, set for 1pm local time (8pm Israel time), will focus mainly on Iran and not on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Netanyahu will present Israel’s position to Trump, according to which the US must work to cancel the nuclear deal with Iran or alternatively make significant changes to it.

Trump and Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem
Trump and Netanyahu meet in Jerusalem

 

Among the changes Israel demands are: harsher sanctions against Tehran; increased supervision on Iran’s nuclear program; extending the period of time in which the Islamic republic is barred from enriching weapons-grade uranium beyond the 10 years set in the agreement; demanding Iran to destroy the advanced centrifuges it currently has; demanding Tehran to stop its long-range missile program; and demanding the Islamic republic to commit to stopping its support of Hezbollah and Hamas, both funding and providing arms.

Netanyahu will also present these demands in his speech at the UN General Assembly meeting on Tuesday at 1pm local time (8pm Israel time).

“Israel will not accept Iranian entrenchment on our northern border, which endangers not only us but also our Arab neighbors, and we are committed to acting against it. Today, Israel’s words are being taken seriously, and so they should be,” Netanyahu said during Friday night dinner with his close entourage in New York.

Netanyahu spent Saturday morning preparing for his speech at the UN. He is expected to continue making changes and corrections to the speech until the last minute, including while at the podium, as he has done in previous years.

The prime minister, who will speak on the opening day of the General Assembly meeting, wants to give a significant speech that would make waves and leave an impression.

Trump will also speak on Monday and try to recruit the UN’s member states to US efforts against North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and the Iranian nuclear threat.

As reported by Ynetnews