Israel fears Trump may settle for diluting Iran’s enriched uranium

Israel is worried that President Donald Trump will agree to a deal that only dilutes Iran’s enriched uranium instead of removing it from the country, according to a Friday report on Channel 12’s “Ulpanei Shishi.” People around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “big fear is that Trump will do to us what Obama did,” referring to a possible agreement that would resemble the Obama-era nuclear deal.

Israeli officials are also concerned that key demands may be dropped from the emerging accord, including a requirement for zero uranium enrichment and any binding limits on Iran’s ballistic missiles. The report said Israel entered the current campaign against Iran alongside the Americans, but now feels left behind and surprised by a deal being shaped over its head. One issue being examined is how to preserve Israel’s right to self-defense, even if the agreement includes language Iran wants that could limit Israeli responses to attacks in Lebanon.

An American official told reporters in a conference call that there is an 85% chance of a deal being signed in the coming days, though he said it is “not 100%.” He added that the U.S. is close to an agreement and that sanctions relief would come only after Iran fulfills its obligations, not just for signing or entering talks. “If they hand over enriched uranium they will get something in return, if they dismantle nuclear facilities they will get something in return,” he said.

The official also said no country would give up the right to self-defense because of the agreement, and that if Iran attacks Israel, Washington would not expect Israel to refrain from responding. He said President Trump spoke with Netanyahu the previous day, and that Israeli concerns about false details circulating in the Iranian media were clarified as inaccurate.