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Israeli PM accuses world powers of giving up on preventing Iranian nukes

Xinhua, February 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensified Wednesday his criticism on the U.S.-led nuclear talks with Iran, accusing the world powers of "giving up on their commitment" to stopping the Islamic Republic from getting nuclear weapons.

Ha'aretz newspaper quoted Netanyahu as saying that the six powers, the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, "have accepted the fact that Iran, gradually over several years, will develop the capabilities to make fissile material for many nuclear bombs."

"Maybe they can live with it, but I can't," he added.

Netanyahu's comments were made ahead of his controversial address to the U.S. Congress on March 3.

Netanyahu, who openly opposes the White House efforts to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, considers the Iranian nuclear project as an "existential threat" to Israel.

His speech was frowned upon by U.S. officials, as it goes against their official stand and was planned behind the administration's back.

The speech was also criticized since it will take place only two weeks before the Israeli elections on March 17.

Netanyahu also responded to the rebuke made by President Barack Obama's National Security Adviser Susan Rice, who said Netanyahu's Congress speech would be "destructive" to the relationship between Israel and the U.S., in an interview with Charlie Rose on PBS.

"I respect the White House and the U.S. president, but on such a critical topic that could determine whether we exist or not, it is my duty to do everything to prevent this great danger to the state of Israel," Netanyahu said.

Representatives from Iran and the P5+1 group concluded their latest round of talks in Geneva on Monday over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

It has been over a year since Iran and the world powers agreed to come back to the negotiating table in 2013. However, wide differences have prevented the sides from reaching a final deal.

The negotiators agreed in November 2014 to extend the deadline for another seven months, aiming to reach a political framework deal by the end of March. Endit