• 

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Sunday that "Israel" was preparing for the day after the Vienna nuclear deal, which he speculated will be "shorter and weaker" than the previous deal and would allow Tehran to develop what he described as "stadiums of advanced centrifuges" when it expires.

Bennett was speaking ahead of a cabinet meeting after reports that the outline of an agreement was taking shape in Vienna discussions.

Bennett said, "We may see an agreement shortly." According to the Israeli PM, the deal that is being negotiated in Vienna to be in the making "is shorter and weaker than the previous one".

The 2015 Iran nuclear deal gave Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear program, but the US unilaterally pulled out in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump, reimposing harsh economic sanctions, during the period of the so-called "maximum pressure" period.

Since late November, talks on renewing the initial deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), have been taking place in Vienna, involving Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia directly, as well as the US indirectly.

According to Bennett, two things have happened since the original agreement, the Iranians have made enormous gains in expanding their enrichment capabilities, and "time has passed."

Bennet revealed that the Israelis are arranging and preparing in every manner for the day after, Bennett said, "so that we can preserve the security of Israel's population on our own."

The Israeli PM said that in exchange for signing the deal, Iran would receive billions of dollars in sanctions relief, which he believed will use to hurt the interests and the existence of the Israeli occupation.

Iran has repeatedly stated that the nuclear enrichment taking place in its facilities is for purely peaceful purposes.

Iran's FM: US must show goodwill gesture for direct talks 

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in a phone call on February 19, that the political claims being made to keep up the pressure against Tehran undermine the probability of reaching a deal.

Raisi also said that his country has presented constructive proposals during the talks and has repeatedly declared that it welcomes initiatives that preserve the rights of the people of Iran.

He stressed that any agreement in Vienna must include sanctions removal, guarantees, and provide an end for pending issues and political claims.

For his part, Macron stressed that good progress has been made in the Vienna Talks and that it is hoped the negotiations would be concluded as soon as possible, adding that the talks should not be affected by political pressure.

Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, had tweeted that "after weeks of intensive talks, we are closer than ever to an agreement, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, though."

He urged the negotiating partners to "be realistic, avoid stubbornness, and stick to the lessons of the past four years", stressing the need for serious decisions.