DM BARAK EXPRESSES SKEPTICISM ON IAEA-IRAN AGREEMENT

(Communicated by Josh Hantman, International Media Advisor, MOD
dover@mod.gov.il )

Defense Minister Ehud Barak today (Tuesday, 22 Mat 2012), expressed
skepticism regarding the value of the apparent agreement between the IAEA
and The Islamic Republic of Iran. He spoke earlier today during a meeting
at the MOD, noting:

"It appears that the Iranians are trying to reach a 'technical agreement'
which will create the impression of progress in the talks, in order to
remove some of the pressure before the [P5+1] talks tomorrow in Baghdad; as
well as to put off the intensification of sanctions. Israel believes that
Iran should be set a clear bar; so that there is no 'window or crack' which
the Iranians can [creep] through to advance their military nuclear program.

Iran must stop enriching uranium, both to 20% and to 3.5%. In addition, all
enriched uranium should be removed from Iran, under the tight protocol,
called IAEA protocol 3.1.

Even if the Iranians are allowed to hold a symbolic amount – a few hundred
kilograms of 3.5% enriched uranium – it needs to be under tight supervision.
This will guarantee that at any given moment, the Iranians will not have
enough uranium to enable the development of a military nuclear [program]. It
is forbidden to make concessions to Iran. The requirements of the world
powers must be clear and unequivocal."