Israeli PM slams int'l efforts to reach deal with Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Sunday the international community for making concessions to the Iranians in the nuclear talks ahead of an upcoming deal, while Iranian leaders vowed to continue fighting the United States and Israel.

As a known objector to the current efforts by the P5+1 --China, Britain, the United States, France, Russia, plus Germany -- and Iran to reach a final agreement on the latter's nuclear program by July 13, Netanyahu said Iran is calling for the destruction of Israel while negotiations with world powers.

"Iranian leader Khamenei said they should continue to fight the United States even if an agreement is reached," Netanyahu said at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting, according to a statement from his office.

"The President (Hassan) Rouhani also headed a hate march, in which Israel and U.S. flags were burnt and there were calls for death to America and Israel. At the same time this happened, concessions are being offered to Iran," Netanyahu said, referring to the intense negotiations between the parties in Vienna.

"Iran is not hiding its intentions to continue with its murderous aggression against those who are now negotiating with it," Netanyahu said, adding that "Maybe the powers are willing to give in to a reality underwritten by Iran, including calls for the destruction of Israel, but we won't accept this."

Following the presentation of the framework agreement in Lausanne in April, the parties were set to reach an agreement on June 30, while the deadline was postponed twice, once to July 7 and then to July 13.

The international community seeks to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and end over a decade strife. In exchange, they are set to lift the debilitating economic sanctions imposed on Iran in the past years.

Talks between the parties commenced in 2013, following the election of Hassan Rouhani and an interim agreement was reached in November of that year. The controversial issues have been the implementation of the supervision of the international community over Iran's nuclear program and the rate of the sanctions removal.

Netanyahu reiterated in recent months that a nuclear Iran will pose an "existential threat" to Israel, calling on the international community to "wait for a better deal," whereas Iran claimed its nuclear capabilities are aimed at peaceful purposes.

Last week, Netanyahu noted that if needed, "Israel will know how to defend itself," implying to a possible preemptive strike by the Israeli Air Force over Iranian facilities. Endit