Mossad Chief Heading to US to Block Iran Deal

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Mossad Director David Barnea will travel today to the US to discuss the JCPOA with the Biden administration.

Barnea's trip comes after talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal were halted on Friday, while negotiating teams return to their countries for consultations.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Barnea will head to the US to convince the Biden administration to avoid seeking an interim deal that would "not see Iran return to full compliance" with the agreement, and instead opt to raise international support for tougher sanctions on Iran.

Barnea will also stress, much like the Israeli PM Naftali Bennett had already publicly stated, that even if an agreement with Iran is reached, "Israel" will not be bound by it and will continue efforts against Iran's nuclear program, according to Ynet news. The spy chief will also "present information" the Mossad possesses on Iran's nuclear program.

Barnea had earlier said that a "bad" deal between Tehran and world powers would be “intolerable” for "Israel".

Bagheri Kani to Al Mayadeen: We have presented two drafts

Iran's lead negotiator in the Vienna talks, Ali Bagheri Kani, announced on Friday that his country is willing to suspend remedial measures if the opposing side removes their measures that violated the nuclear deal.

Bagheri Kani told Al Mayadeen, after Iran presented two draft proposals, that "since we have presented the two drafts, we've held several meetings with the other teams in Vienna," adding that "we expect the other teams to give us their legal answers and logical arguments to our suggestions."

He said the talks were paused “since the opposite side needed to consult with their capitals to provide a documented and reasonable response to these  proposals." The negotiations would resume in the middle of next week.