'Israel' threatens to 'act alone' over nuclear deal, Iran responds
"Israel" tells the UN watchdog that it could diplomatically deal with the Iran nuclear deal but could also "act alone", which Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said would only happen "in Israel's dreams."
"Israel" tell the UN nuclear watchdog on Friday that a diplomatic resolution over Iran's nuclear program is welcomed but threatens at the same time it could take "independent action", referring to its long-standing disclosed threat to light a war.
The warning to visiting IAEA chief Rafael Grossi came as Western nations urged the IAEA Board of Governors to chastise Tehran for allegedly failing to answer questions about uranium traces.
Since Washington's withdrawal, Iran has been confirming its nuclear plans are benign and peaceful.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett "stressed (to Grossi) the importance of the IAEA Board of Governors delivering a clear and unequivocal message to Iran in its upcoming decision," a statement from Bennett's office said.
"While it prefers diplomacy in order to deny Iran the possibility of developing nuclear weapons, "Israel" reserves the right to self-defense and action against Iran to stop its nuclear program if the international community fails to do so within the relevant time-frame," it added without elaborating.
On his part, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, told Norway's NRK that "Israel" "can only attack Iran in its dreams."
"And if they do have such a dream, they will never wake up from it," Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted Bagheri Kani, who is on an official visit to Norway, as saying.
The Israeli military, which itself has nuclear weapons, announced all-out exercises over the Mediterranean Sea and the uncommon deployment of a naval submarine to the Red Sea.
However, some security analysts worry whether "Israel" has the conventional power to deliver long-term damage to Tehran's distant, dispersed, and well-defended nuclear installations - or to deal with the multi-front warfare.