Iran’s nuclear concessions ‘cosmetic’

Netanyahu to take argument against Tehran to European media following WSJ reports on Iran offers for nuclear talks.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will flood the European media in coming days with interviews trying to sway public opinion against easing sanctions on Iran in return for what Jerusalem views as cosmetic concessions. Netanyahu’s media blitz comes as The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Iran will come to talks in Geneva next week with the world powers – the US, Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain – willing to stop enriching uranium to 20-percent purity, which is close to weapons-grade capability.

 According to the report, the Islamic Republic – in exchange for scaling back the sanctions – will also be willing to open up its nuclear facilities to more invasive international inspections, and is considering closing the underground uranium enrichment facility near Qom. Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, who met on Wednesday with the head of the French team to the negotiations with Iran, called what Iran was reportedly willing to bring to the table “laughable.” “Closing the facility in Qom means that Iran will be able to produce in its first year of nuclearization five bombs instead of six,” he said. “Giving up on enriching to 20% is less significant at a time when Iran already has 20,000 centrifuges.”

 Steinitz said that Israel was amenable to a “true and serious diplomatic solution” whereby Iran’s nuclear capabilities would be similar to those of Canada or Mexico – it would be able to generate electricity from a reactor, but would need to buy the nuclear fuel to work the reactors from another country.

http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Jlem-dismisses-reports-of-Iranian-willingness-to-end-high-grade-uranium-enrichment-as-cosmetic-concession-328313