Israel says 'in broad agreement' with US over Iran's nuke programme

Israel's international affairs minister has said there were 'small differences' with the United States over the Iranian nuclear issue.

The comments from Israel came a week after direct talks between Tehran and world powers.

Yuval Steinitz, who is also intelligence minister, said that Israel sees eye to eye with the Americans on the final objective, which is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, but there are some small differences over the way to do that.

According to news24, Steinitz, who is on a visit to the US for discussions on Iran, did not elaborate, but added that sanctions against Tehran must not be relaxed until there is 'an agreement guaranteeing 100% that Iran will never be able to have a nuclear weapon'.

Israel wants Iran to meet four conditions before the sanctions are eased: halting all uranium enrichment; removing all enriched uranium from its territory; closing its underground nuclear facility in Qom; and halting construction of a plutonium reactor, the report said.

Western countries, along with Israel, suspect Iran's nuclear activities are aimed at military objectives, a claim Tehran has always denied.

Steinitz said Israel does not oppose Iran's right to civilian nuclear energy, but insisted it must not be able to enrich its own uranium, which is required for nuclear fuel but can also be used to develop a warhead, the report added.