Netanyahu says Iran deal must address missiles, cites 300 km cap
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday outlined what he said were key conditions required for an agreement including curbs on its ballistic missiles program.
“I will not hide from you that I expressed my skepticism of any deal with Iran because, frankly, Iran is reliable on one thing: they lie and they cheat,” Netanyahu said, speaking at the Conference of Presidents’ 51st Annual National Leadership Mission.
He said any deal should include several components he views as essential not only for Israel’s security but for that of the United States and the wider world.
“The first is that all enriched material has to leave Iran. The second is that there should be no enrichment capability, not stopping the enrichment process, but dismantle the equipment and the infrastructure that allows you to enrich in the first place,” he said.
Netanyahu added that an agreement should also address Iran’s ballistic missile program, citing a 300-kilometer range limit under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
“There's an MTCR limitation of 300 kilometers, and Iran is supposed to adhere to it. Of course, it doesn't,” Netanyahu said.
He added that any agreement should also address its support for Iran’s regional allied groups.
“And the fourth is… dismantle the axis of terror that Iran has built. It's been smashed, but it's still there, and it's trying to recover, as Iran itself is trying to do,” he said.
Netanyahu also cited the need for inspections.
“And the last thing is, remember Ronald Reagan's dictum vis-à-vis the Soviet Union: Trust but verify, distrust, distrust, and always verify. So there has to be real inspections, substantive inspections, no lead-time inspections, but effective inspections for all of the above,” he said.
