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Last update - 08:20 22/10/2009
Israel officials ordered to keep mum on reported Iran deal
By Barak Ravid
Tags: Israel News, IAEA 

The national security adviser has instructed all government officials involved in the Iranian nuclear issue not to respond to media reports on a draft agreement between Iran and the West regarding uranium enrichment in Russia.

Uzi Arad, who heads the National Security Council, issued the directive to officials in the Foreign Ministry, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces.

A senior political source in Jerusalem said the directive was issued because Israel wishes to ascertain the details of the draft agreement and to ensure media reports on the deal are accurate.
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Despite Arad's instructions, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai said Wednesday that the campaign to pressure the Islamic Republic seems to be bearing fruit.

"This proves how important international pressure is," Vilnai told Army Radio. "Iran is more susceptible to pressure than we may believe."

Even if Iran agrees to the plan to reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium, world powers need to keep pressure on Tehran to prevent it from developing nuclear weapon capabilities, he said.

Vilnai said Israel would examine the UN draft agreement cautiously, "paying attention to every detail," to make sure Iran was not just trying to buy time.

Israel would also like to verify whether the deal reflects the positions of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United States and European countries.

Defense officials and intelligence experts are still trying to understand the basis for the agreement, which was presented by IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei.

A senior defense source said the entire story seems strange, and it remains unclear how this agreement came about.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who is spearheading talks with Tehran on behalf of the Western powers.

Officials in the prime minister's bureau refused to state whether the reported deal came up in Netanyahu's talks with Solana.

Netanyahu discussed the Iranian issue in his conversation with the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice.

Rice, who addressed the President's Conference in Jerusalem yesterday, said the U.S. would not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, and would not ease pressure on Iran over this issue.

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      1.   gentle reminder 04:57  |  Miron 22/10/09
      2.   Would Iranian negotiators sign off on a deal opposed by mullahs 06:48  |  Paul Freedman 22/10/09
      3.   Israel In Talks With Iran? 06:50  |  Yosemite 22/10/09
      4.   Jerusalme quiet over Iranian "deal" 06:54  |  DT 22/10/09
      5.   It`s Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem 06:56  |  Justice 22/10/09
      6.   So the war is cancelled 07:16  |  dani.a 22/10/09
      7.   Peace in our time 09:18  |  Yonatan 22/10/09
      8.   Prepare the troopships 09:23  |  Yonatan 22/10/09
      9.   Israel officals left with empty hands 09:31  |  Arie Heide 22/10/09
      10.   Not a good day for the "warmongers" of this world..... 09:59  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/09
      11.   To swiss Dino 10:32  |  Arieka 22/10/09
      12.   Do I sense great disappointment in certain 10:49  |  r cummings 22/10/09
      13.   # 9 Arieka, you are right, I`m having a "good day" too...:) 11:05  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/10/09
      14.   To #7 11:30  |  KoM 22/10/09
      15.   r cummings, haven`t you considered... 11:32  |  Uri 22/10/09
      16.   A major disappointment 13:39  |  Mark Lincoln 22/10/09
      17.   Yonatan`s great thriller novel 13:54  |  Mark Lincoln 22/10/09
      18.   Uri, I considered that but ruled it out as just 14:01  |  r cummings 22/10/09
      19.   Everyone too excited 14:04  |  Mark Lincoln 22/10/09
      20.   Now about those Israeli nukes.. 14:35  |  Lese Majeste 22/10/09
      21.   To #5 18:06  |  Uzi 22/10/09
      22.   Way to be Justice 04:50  |  MOkesum 23/10/09
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